1909-11 T206 Ira Thomas
1909–11 T206 Ira Thomas
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 350 Only print series · also a T213-1 Coupon back
The 1909–1911 T206 Ira Thomas is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Ira Thomas, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 11 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 923 examples have been graded, with only 15 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Ira Thomas
Born 1881 in Ballston Spa, NY (d. 1958), Ira Thomas was a right-handed catcher who debuted in 1906 and played 10 major-league seasons. He batted .242 with 327 hits, 3 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in 484 games.
Confirmed backs (11)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 553 | 12 | 24 | 58 | 123 | 103 | 140 | 93 |
| SGC | 370 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 64 | 80 | 65 | 121 |
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 1910 | 256 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 75 |
| Sweet Caporal | 66 |
| Old Mill | 22 |
| Carolina Brights | 12 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 11 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 10 |
| El Principe de Gales | 10 |
| Cycle 1910 | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Unknown back | 86 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| American Beauty 1910 | 5 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 1 |
| Carolina Brights 1909-11 | 7 |
| Cycle 1909-11 | 1 |
| Drum 1910 | 1 |
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 8 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 20 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 195 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 19 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 112 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Ira Thomas card?
The Ira Thomas 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 Philadelphia Athletics player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 11 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 923 examples of the Ira Thomas have been graded, with only 15 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Ira Thomas come with?
The Ira Thomas is confirmed with 11 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Carolina Brights, Cycle, Drum, El Principe de Gales, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Ira Thomas 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.