1909-11 T206 George Bell (Hands Above Head)
1909–11 T206 George Bell
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 George Bell (“Hands Above Head” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts George Bell, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 5 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 839 examples have been graded, with only 16 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About George Bell
Born 1874 in Greenwood, NY (d. 1941), George Bell was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1907 and played 5 major-league seasons. He went 43-79 with a 2.85 ERA and 376 strikeouts across 160 appearances.
Confirmed backs (5)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 521 | 14 | 23 | 65 | 107 | 108 | 106 | 98 |
| SGC | 318 | 2 | 7 | 36 | 58 | 61 | 54 | 100 |
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 | 113 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 106 |
| Sweet Caporal | 62 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 44 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 33 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 32 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 17 |
| Hindu | 16 |
| Sovereign | 10 |
| Old Mill | 7 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Unknown back | 74 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Hindu 1909-11 | 11 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 1 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 141 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 55 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 7 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 21 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 58 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 24 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 George Bell card?
The George Bell (Hands Above Head) 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 Brooklyn Superbas player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 5 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 839 examples of the George Bell have been graded, with only 16 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 George Bell come with?
The George Bell 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 George Bell 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.