Quite underrated due to a shortage of star power, the T207 issue of 1912
is one of the most fascinating of all prewar tobacco issues. With
varying levels of scarcity, a number of tough individual rarities,
difficult front/back combinations and a condition-sensitive gloss on the
card fronts, assembling a strong T207 set is quite a collecting
challenge.
This example features a portrait of New York's Josh Devore. Centering is just slightly south on the canvas, with beautiful edges and registration. The corners are mostly wonderful, with only a slight bit of softness in the bottom right, keeping this card from grading even higher than it already has. The printing on the Recruit Little Cigars back is dark and bold, with only some light staining. This is an extraordinary example seldom seen with this sort of visual appeal.
SGC
has only ever graded 68 total examples of this T207 with a Recruit Little Cigars back, with only seven receiving a higher grade than the EX 5 offered here of New York's Josh Devore.