The first series of cards in the T206 set were issued beginning in
1909 in cigarette and loose tobacco packs through 16 different brands
owned by the American Tobacco Company. It is a landmark set in the
history of baseball card collecting due to its size and rarity, with
cards of over 500 major and minor-league players issued in the set
through 1911. It is known informally as the "White Border" set due to
the
distinctive white borders surrounding the quality color lithographs on
each card.
Another of the seven cards to be updated when the player changed teams
during the T206 print runs, Red Kleinow was purchased by the Boston Red Sox
early in the 1910 season. This is the original card depicting the catcher
with the Highlanders. Centering is just a touch northwest on the canvas, with some minor diamond cutting which leaves the top left corner just a hair higher than the right. Corners are slightly rounded but strong, with nice edges despite a minor chip in the left side. Some light tobacco staining particularly noticeable in the top left quadrant keeps this card from grading higher than it already has. The Piedmont back has beautifully bold printing, though centering is west on the canvas. Some light paper loss on the right edge aligns with the chipping on the left edge from the front. Still, this card has tremendous eye appeal, displaying bold coloring and a unique glimpse at early catching equipment.