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.

A truly gorgeous sky dominates the background of this close up shot of Clark Griffith batting in his beautifully bold, dark blue Cincinnati uniform. We get a good look at the Hall of Famer's grip as the bat is so prominent in the foreground that the detail of the wood grain is visible. Centering is just slightly east on the canvas, with rounded corners consistent with the grade. The edges are actually very nice, with only some minor chipping along the bottom. A small print registration issue and tobacco stains keep this card from grading higher. The Polar Bear back is east on the canvas and exhibits even more tobacco staining, further explaining the card's technical grade.