1909-11 T206 Simon Nicholls (Hands On Knees)
1909–11 T206 Simon Nicholls
Philadelphia Athletics · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Simon Nicholls (“Hands On Knees” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Simon Nicholls, a member of the historic Philadelphia Athletics (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 4 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 878 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Simon Nicholls
Born 1882 in Germantown, MD (d. 1911), Simon Nicholls was a left-handed shortstop who debuted in 1903 and played 6 major-league seasons. He batted .251 with 284 hits, 4 home runs, and 27 stolen bases in 312 games.
Confirmed backs (4)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 534 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 133 | 89 | 136 | 90 |
| SGC | 344 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 49 | 72 | 69 | 106 |
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 1909 | 105 |
| Piedmont | 84 |
| Sweet Caporal | 63 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 61 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 50 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 37 |
| Old Mill | 15 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 9 |
| Sovereign | 9 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 8 |
| Unknown back | 93 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 10 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 150 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 40 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 18 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 71 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 36 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Simon Nicholls card?
The Simon Nicholls (Hands On Knees) 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 4 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 878 examples of the Simon Nicholls 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 Simon Nicholls come with?
The Simon Nicholls is confirmed with 4 tobacco-brand backs: Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Simon Nicholls 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.