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 tough example in the set regardless of the back, Bill Hallman sits for his portrait in front of a bright red background. Centering is south and slightly west on the canvas, which is the main issue keeping it from grading even higher than it already has. Nice corners and wonderful edges are consistent with the grade, with the white borders flawed only by some minor soil spots. The printing on the Old Mill back is dark and bold. While there are some more tobacco stains on the reverse, they do not affect the front, which has massive eye appeal.
SGC has only ever graded 20 total examples of this T206 with an Old Mill back, with only ONE receiving a higher grade than the EX 5 offered here of Kansas City's Bill Hallman.