1909-11 T206 Admiral Schlei (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Admiral Schlei
New York Giants · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Admiral Schlei (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Admiral Schlei, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 10 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 795 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Admiral Schlei
Born 1878 in Cincinnati, OH (d. 1958), Admiral Schlei was a right-handed catcher who debuted in 1904 and played 8 major-league seasons. He batted .237 with 455 hits, 6 home runs, and 38 stolen bases in 636 games.
Confirmed backs (10)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 492 | 14 | 35 | 59 | 122 | 95 | 84 | 83 |
| SGC | 303 | 2 | 10 | 35 | 52 | 62 | 56 | 86 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 83 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 71 |
| Piedmont | 66 |
| Sweet Caporal | 50 |
| Polar Bear | 41 |
| Old Mill | 38 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 22 |
| Tolstoi | 21 |
| Lenox | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 5 |
| Uzit | 5 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| Unknown back | 81 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 2 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 22 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 116 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 27 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 96 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 14 |
| Uzit 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Admiral Schlei card?
The Admiral Schlei (Portrait) is one of 524 subjects in the T206 "White Border" tobacco set issued 1909-1911, the hobby's most iconic vintage set (nicknamed "The Monster"). It pictures the New York Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 10 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 795 examples of the Admiral Schlei have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Admiral Schlei come with?
The Admiral Schlei is confirmed with 10 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Admiral Schlei valuable?
Value depends heavily on the back brand and the card's grade: common backs in low grade trade modestly, while scarce backs and high grades command strong premiums. Check the current T206 Cards listings and eBay options above for live pricing.