1909–11 T206 Harry Gasper
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Harry Gasper is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Harry Gasper, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 12 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1124 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Harry Gasper
Harry Lambert Gaspar (the T206 checklist misspells him "Gasper") was a right-handed pitcher born April 28, 1883, in Kingsley, Iowa. He came up off Iowa's small-town diamonds, sharpening his craft with a string of Midwestern minor-league clubs; at Waterloo in 1907 he went 18-9 and threw an eleven-inning 1-0 no-hitter against Burlington, and in a dominant Central Association campaign he reportedly posted a 32-4 record with a league-best 2.17 ERA before Cincinnati bought his contract. Gaspar spent his entire major-league career with the Cincinnati Reds (National League) from 1909 to 1912. He debuted brilliantly, going 19-11 with a 2.01 ERA as a 1909 rookie, and followed with solid seasons in 1910 and 1911 before fading. Over four years he compiled a 46-48 record with a fine 2.69 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 143 appearances. Never a Hall of Famer, Gaspar was a workhorse deadball arm rather than a star; released in 1912, he returned to Iowa, where he ran the Gaspar photography studio in Le Mars, and later managed bowling alleys in California. He died May 14, 1940.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (12)
Chip colour marks each back's rarity tier. See the full T206 back rarity ranking →
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 687 | 15 | 53 | 81 | 163 | 137 | 140 | 98 |
| SGC | 437 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 84 | 104 | 81 | 110 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 293 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 82 |
| Sweet Caporal | 58 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 30 |
| Polar Bear | 30 |
| Old Mill | 19 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 13 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Tolstoi | 9 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 5 |
| Cycle 1910 | 5 |
| Carolina Brights | 3 |
| Drum | 2 |
| Unknown back | 128 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 10 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Cycle 1910 | 10 |
| Drum 1910 | 2 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 9 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 12 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 224 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 24 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 26 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 108 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Harry Gasper card?
The Harry Gasper 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 Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in tobacco packs across 12 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 1124 examples of the Harry Gasper 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 Harry Gasper come with?
The Harry Gasper is confirmed with 12 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, 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 Harry Gasper 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.
More Cincinnati Reds cards
Sources: t206resource.com, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Inside T206 by Scot Reader. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.