1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Walter Johnson
Washington Senators · American League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Walter Johnson (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Walter Johnson, a member of the historic Washington Senators (American League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2269 examples have been graded, with only 29 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Walter Johnson
Born 1887 in Humboldt, KS (d. 1946), Walter Johnson was a right-handed pitcher who debuted in 1907 and played 21 major-league seasons. He went 417-279 with a 2.17 ERA and 3,509 strikeouts across 802 appearances. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Confirmed backs (6)
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1338 | 25 | 50 | 106 | 223 | 218 | 313 | 403 |
| SGC | 931 | 4 | 9 | 72 | 78 | 147 | 189 | 432 |
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 | 249 |
| Piedmont | 241 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 162 |
| Sweet Caporal | 124 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 98 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 51 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 24 |
| Sovereign | 22 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 22 |
| El Principe de Gales | 20 |
| Hindu | 19 |
| Old Mill | 5 |
| Unknown back | 301 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 18 |
| Hindu 1909 | 2 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 19 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 2 |
| Piedmont 1909 | 395 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 136 |
| Piedmont 1911 | 1 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 25 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 34 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 202 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 7 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson card?
The Walter Johnson (Portrait) 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 Washington Senators player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is the T206
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 2269 examples of the Walter Johnson have been graded, with only 29 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Walter Johnson come with?
The Walter Johnson is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Walter Johnson 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.