1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson (Dark Cap)
1909–11 T206 Christy Mathewson
New York Giants · National League · Super Print print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Christy Mathewson (“Dark Cap” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Christy Mathewson, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the Super Print series, known with 13 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 3269 examples have been graded, with only 74 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Christy Mathewson
Born 1880 in Factoryville, PA (d. 1925), Christy Mathewson was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1900 and played 17 major-league seasons. He went 373-188 with a 2.13 ERA and 2,502 strikeouts across 635 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. In the 1905 World Series he threw three complete-game shutouts in the span of just six days, leading the Giants to the title without allowing a single earned run.
Confirmed backs (13)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1880 | 56 | 97 | 192 | 319 | 327 | 396 | 493 |
| SGC | 1389 | 18 | 21 | 98 | 171 | 275 | 245 | 561 |
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 | 223 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 204 |
| Piedmont | 203 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 202 |
| Polar Bear | 157 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 116 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 111 |
| Old Mill | 40 |
| Sovereign | 25 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 22 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 20 |
| Tolstoi | 20 |
| El Principe de Gales | 18 |
| Carolina Brights | 17 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 14 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| Cycle | 9 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 2 |
| Unknown back | 462 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 23 |
| Broad Leaf 1911 | 2 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 11 |
| Cycle 1909-11 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 13 |
| Cycle 1911 | 4 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 15 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 47 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 347 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 162 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 166 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 45 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 343 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 166 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 23 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson card?
The Christy Mathewson (Dark Cap) 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 13 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 3269 examples of the Christy Mathewson have been graded, with only 74 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Christy Mathewson come with?
The Christy Mathewson is confirmed with 13 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Christy Mathewson 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.