1909-11 T206 Happy Smith
1909–11 T206 Happy Smith
Brooklyn Superbas · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Happy Smith is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Happy Smith, a member of the historic Brooklyn Superbas (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 776 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Happy Smith
Born 1883 in Coquille, OR (d. 1961), Happy Smith was a left-handed outfielder who debuted in 1910 and played 1 major-league season. He batted .237 with 18 hits and 4 stolen bases in 35 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 463 | 17 | 29 | 61 | 108 | 85 | 94 | 69 |
| SGC | 313 | 2 | 7 | 38 | 51 | 73 | 65 | 77 |
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 1911 | 113 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 79 |
| Sweet Caporal | 68 |
| Polar Bear | 25 |
| Old Mill | 23 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 19 |
| Tolstoi | 16 |
| El Principe de Gales | 7 |
| Lenox | 6 |
| Cycle 1911 | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 3 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 98 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1911 | 5 |
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 2 |
| Lenox 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 11 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 137 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 19 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 15 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 94 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 14 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Happy Smith card?
The Happy Smith 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 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 776 examples of the Happy Smith have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Happy Smith come with?
The Happy Smith is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Cycle, El Principe de Gales, Lenox, Old Mill, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi, Uzit. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Happy Smith 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.