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.
Hall of Famer Jake Beckley is the subject of this stoic portrait with a red
background. Centering is just ever so slightly northwest on the canvas, with nice corners and gorgeous edges befitting the grade. Some faint soiling on the two side borders keep this card from grading even higher than it already has, without taking away from the eye appeal of the front. The red printing on the Sweet Cap back is dark and bold, though another few spots of tobacco staining on the reverse probably also hold the grade from being higher.