1909-11 T206 Dave Brain
1909–11 T206 Dave Brain
Buffalo Bisons · Eastern League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Dave Brain is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Dave Brain, a member of the historic Buffalo Bisons (Eastern League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 924 examples have been graded, with only 18 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Dave Brain
Born 1879 in Hereford, Herefordshire (d. 1959), Dave Brain was a right-handed third baseman who debuted in 1901 and played 7 major-league seasons. He batted .252 with 641 hits, 27 home runs, and 73 stolen bases in 679 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 539 | 17 | 25 | 82 | 114 | 87 | 115 | 99 |
| SGC | 385 | 1 | 7 | 44 | 62 | 91 | 60 | 120 |
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 | 245 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 66 |
| Sweet Caporal | 48 |
| Polar Bear | 36 |
| Old Mill | 18 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 12 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Tolstoi | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 86 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 2 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Cycle 1910 | 8 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 12 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 13 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 185 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 31 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 110 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Dave Brain card?
The Dave Brain 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 Buffalo Bisons player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 924 examples of the Dave Brain have been graded, with only 18 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Dave Brain come with?
The Dave Brain is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, 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 Dave Brain 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.