1909-11 T206 Frank Isbell
1909–11 T206 Frank Isbell
Chicago White Sox · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Frank Isbell is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Frank Isbell, a member of the historic Chicago White Sox (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 890 examples have been graded, with only 13 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Frank Isbell
Born 1875 in Delevan, NY (d. 1941), Frank Isbell was a left-handed first baseman who debuted in 1898 and played 10 major-league seasons. He batted .250 with 1,056 hits, 13 home runs, and 253 stolen bases in 1,119 games.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 559 | 12 | 39 | 77 | 108 | 110 | 112 | 101 |
| SGC | 331 | 1 | 11 | 39 | 51 | 77 | 58 | 94 |
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 1909 | 121 |
| Piedmont | 103 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 65 |
| Sweet Caporal | 61 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 41 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 26 |
| Hindu | 17 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| Sovereign | 10 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Old Mill | 4 |
| Unknown back | 93 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 10 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 119 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 52 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 8 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 89 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Frank Isbell card?
The Frank Isbell 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 Chicago White Sox player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 890 examples of the Frank Isbell have been graded, with only 13 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Frank Isbell come with?
The Frank Isbell 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 Frank Isbell 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.