Pre-War Cards

“Monster” Opportunity for T206 Collectors in REA’s February Auction

T206 cards have long served as both an entry point and a lifelong pursuit for prewar collectors, offering a unique blend of Hall of Fame talent and loaded with image and advertising variations to keep its fans engaged. The REA February Auction offers various rarities, from high-grade, to rare backs, to one of the most well-known error cards in existence.

Let’s take a look.

Variations within the T206 set often tell subtle stories about distribution and production, and few are more intriguing than the St. Louis variation of Ray Demmitt. Issued only with Polar Bear tobacco, the card is significantly scarcer than Demmitt’s more common New York version.

Graded VG 3, this example stands out for its unusually clean appearance, with virtually no tobacco staining — a rarity for the issue. Strong colors, excellent registration, and balanced centering contribute to its appeal, while minor flaws reflect the realities of how these cards were originally handled and stored. As a result, the Demmitt St. Louis remains one of the most condition-sensitive and challenging cards in the entire T206 checklist.

The historical significance of the T206 Sherry Magie error is well-documented. Printed with a misspelling of his last name, the corrected version (Magee) replaced it early in production, leaving relatively few examples of the original error in circulation. Alongside the short-printed Wagner and Plank, and Doyle (Nat’l) error card, the Magie has long been recognized as one of the “Big Four” and key obstacles to completing a master set.

The card’s status as a major rarity dates back to the earliest days of organized collecting. Jefferson Burdick specifically identified the Magie error as significant in the American Card Catalog, cementing its reputation for generations of collectors. Despite creasing and paper loss that account for its PSA POOR 1 grade, this example retains strong color and registration, qualities that remain especially important for a card whose appeal rests primarily in its rarity and historical importance.

The T206 card of Tris Speaker holds a special place within the set, representing both his only T206 appearance and his recognized rookie card. Speaker’s standing as one of the greatest defensive center fielders in baseball history adds further weight to the card’s importance, making it a cornerstone Hall of Fame issue within the series.

This PSA NM 7 example highlights how striking T206 cards can appear when preserved at a high level. Bright colors, crisp edges, and a clean Piedmont 350 reverse combine to create an example that closely resembles how the card might have appeared when first pulled from a tobacco pack more than a century ago.

Unsurprisingly, Deadball Era legend Walter Johnson’s T206 cards remain essential for advanced collections. The hands-at-chest pose is among the most familiar images, pairing a dignified portrait with the bold color palette typical of the set.

This EX-MT 6 example is particularly notable for its Polar Bear advertising reverse and population standing, with only three examples graded at this level by PSA and none higher for the front/back combination. Polar Bear backs have long held special appeal for collectors due to their distinctive blue ink and connection to one of the more unusual distribution methods within the T206 issue. Strong registration, appealing color, and solid overall presentation make this a standout example of one of the set’s most important Hall of Fame cards.

The St. Louis variation of Bill O’Hara shares much in common with the Demmitt variation, including its exclusive association with Polar Bear tobacco and the scarcity that results from that limited distribution. Like many Polar Bear–issued cards, surviving examples often exhibit tobacco staining due to packaging with loose tobacco vs rolled cigarettes, making well-presented examples especially desirable among collectors.

What makes the card particularly intriguing is the visible portion of the nameplate from the card above along the top edge. The partial appearance of “O’Hara, St. Louis” offers a small but fascinating glimpse into the printing and cutting process behind the T206 set. For many collectors, such production quirks add an additional layer of historical interest, illustrating how these cards were originally manufactured more than a century ago. The boldly printed Polar Bear reverse further enhances the appeal of one of the rarest and most condition-sensitive variations in the classic T206 set.

While these are some of the more unique variations in the REA February event, it’s also loaded with the iconic.  Browse the lots and find plenty of Cobb, Mathewson, and other prewar stalwarts.  Bidding ends Sunday, Feb 22nd.