1909-11 T206 Howie Camnitz (Hands Above Head)
1909–11 T206 Howie Camnitz
Pittsburgh Pirates · National League · 460 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Howie Camnitz (“Hands Above Head” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Howie Camnitz, a member of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), and was printed in the 460 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 858 examples have been graded, with only 23 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Howie Camnitz
Born 1881 in Covington, KY (d. 1960), Howie Camnitz was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1904 and played 11 major-league seasons. He went 133-106 with a 2.75 ERA and 915 strikeouts across 326 appearances.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 518 | 20 | 43 | 62 | 126 | 92 | 93 | 82 |
| SGC | 340 | 3 | 10 | 50 | 43 | 90 | 64 | 80 |
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 | 178 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 92 |
| Sweet Caporal | 64 |
| Tolstoi | 21 |
| Old Mill | 21 |
| Polar Bear | 20 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 18 |
| Cycle 1911 | 6 |
| Lenox | 5 |
| El Principe de Gales | 5 |
| American Beauty 1911 | 2 |
| Uzit | 1 |
| Unknown back | 85 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Cycle 1911 | 7 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 14 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 148 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 29 |
| Sovereign 1911 | 25 |
| Sweet Caporal 1911 | 99 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Howie Camnitz card?
The Howie Camnitz (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 Pittsburgh Pirates player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 858 examples of the Howie Camnitz have been graded, with only 23 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Howie Camnitz come with?
The Howie Camnitz 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 Howie Camnitz 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.