1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Christy Mathewson
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Christy Mathewson (“Portrait” 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 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1889 examples have been graded, with only 35 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.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1112 | 28 | 44 | 61 | 210 | 209 | 247 | 313 |
| SGC | 777 | 7 | 14 | 41 | 82 | 130 | 141 | 362 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Sovereign | 304 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 225 |
| Piedmont | 175 |
| Sweet Caporal | 111 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 102 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 77 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 59 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 28 |
| Hindu | 13 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 12 |
| Old Mill | 6 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 16 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 5 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 302 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 125 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 17 |
| Sovereign 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 42 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 169 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 3 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 97 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Christy Mathewson card?
The Christy Mathewson (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 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1889 examples of the Christy Mathewson have been graded, with only 35 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 5 tobacco-brand backs: Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. 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.