1909-11 T206 Bill Abstein
1909–11 T206 Bill Abstein
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bill Abstein is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bill Abstein, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 8 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1036 examples have been graded, with only 25 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bill Abstein
Born 1883 in St. Louis, MO (d. 1940), Bill Abstein was a right-handed first baseman who debuted in 1906 and played 3 major-league seasons. He batted .242 with 150 hits, 1 home runs, and 21 stolen bases in 170 games.
Confirmed backs (8)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 652 | 19 | 40 | 97 | 161 | 133 | 121 | 81 |
| SGC | 384 | 6 | 5 | 48 | 62 | 89 | 69 | 105 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 391 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal | 45 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 9 |
| Carolina Brights | 7 |
| Tolstoi | 6 |
| Cycle 1910 | 6 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Unknown back | 122 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 8 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 5 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 269 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 85 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bill Abstein card?
The Bill Abstein 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 8 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1036 examples of the Bill Abstein have been graded, with only 25 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bill Abstein come with?
The Bill Abstein is confirmed with 8 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bill Abstein 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.