Many tobacco companies began putting cards in their packages.  Buchner Tobacco, for example, put out a series of "Gold Coin" tobacco cards.  This was a set of about 150 cards that have the players drawn in color and are known as "line drawing."

The largest and most famous set of the 1880's is known as the "Old Judge."  Numbering over 1,500 different with many players and in different poses, this set of cards was produced small in size measuring about 1 1/2" by 2 1/2".  They were all sepia colored (dark reddish-brown) with blank backs.

The cards issued during this period are highly sought-after.  Therefore today they are quite valuable.  Some companies issuing the cards at the time were: Lone Jack, Duke, Gypsy Queen, W.S. Kimball, P.H. Mayo, Kalamazoo Bats, and Scraps Tobacco.

A special feature of the 1880's involved premiums.  In other words, a collector would save coupons from packages, then send away to obtain a "cabinet card."  These cabinet cards were actual photograghs glued to very heavy stock, far heavier than the usual tobacco cards, and measured about 5" by 7".  They are also rather rare since a person had to save up to 20 coupons before being able to send for a cabinet card.  Today these cards are quite scarce and for that reason are extremely expensive.  When located, an 1880's cabinet card may sell upwards of $1,000.

New tobacco companies started in the early 1900's and as a result of new competition, many of the older companies left the scene.  The most famous of the new tobacco companies was the American Tobacco Company which produced such popular brands as Sweet Caporal, Piedmont, Sovereign, Old Mill, Hassan, Mecca, and Turkey Red.  These new tobacco companies began their own "publicity wars"  and new types of baseball cards evolved.

Many innovative types of cards were issued around 1910.  The Hassan Tobacco Company issued the "Triple Folder" series; the card folded at each end to make what appeared to be a square card.  The picture of a baseball player was on each end; in the middle there was a baseball action photo.  These cards are highly collectible but are difficult to find.

The Mecca Company issued a series of interesting cards which we today call "Double Folders."  When the card is folded down there is a picture of a baseball player.  When the card is folded up, there is a picture of a different baseball player, both pictures share the lower half.  Although these cards are more easily found than the "Triple Folder" series, they command a price of about $25 a card.

The Turkey Red Company issued what is now considered one of the most beautiful series of all time.  They were sturdy cabinet cards (5 3/4" by 8") which were obtained by saving coupons.  Save 10 coupons for a wood-grained border card; save 25 coupons for the same card on silk; save 50 coupons for the same pose on leather shaped like an animal skin.  Today these Turkey Red cabinet cards are very valuable.  The plain, common player card is worth about $75, the silk card is valued at around $200, but the leather cards, when seen, are valued at around $500.  This entire series was much in demand in 1910.

Perhaps the most popular set of the early 20th Century is the 1909-1911 issue of the American Tobacco Company known as the T206 "White Borders."  The set is sought-after by collectors and most difficult to complete.  These cards featured 514 cards from the American and National Leagues as well as the minor  and southern leaguers and they measured as other cards from this period, 1 1/2" by 2 1/2.  Today many of these cards, which are not difficult to find, can be purchased for about $5 each.

One of the most difficult T206 cards to find is that of Honus Wagner, the Hall of Fame shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  During this period the tobacco companies did not bother to obtain permission from the players before publishing their pictures.  Honus Wagner, a non-smoker, did not want young children to buy and smoke cigarettes just to obtain his picture on a card.  He demanded the tobacco companies take his picture off the market immediately.  The companies complied but some cards did get into circulation.  Today there are about 50 known copies.  The Honus Wagner card, when available sells for between $25,000-$100,000!

Another very valuable card of the White Border series is that of Eddie Plank.  The printing plate was broken while in use and the company decided to discontinue the card rather than replace the plate.  No one is sure today just how many Eddie Plank cards exist - perhaps 35 or 40 - but the Eddie Plank card is now worth $2,500-$8,000.

The Sherwood Magee card is also a valuable card in the White Border series.  Early in production his name was misspelled.  It was spelled M-A-G-I-E instead of with two e's.  This "Magie"variation would be valued at anywhere from $1,500-$3,500 if it could be found.  Other scarcities in the White Border set include the O'Hara-St. Louis and the Demmit-St. Louis cards, which sell for a premium of about $1,000 each.

Other factors that make some T206 cards more valuable than others are the advertisment on the back of the cards.  For example, Sweet Caporal and Piedmont brands are the most common, while Ty Cobb brand is the most rare, being found on only one card, that a picture of Ty Cobb himself.  Some collectors believe this card may be as difficult to find as the Honus Wagner card.*