My First T206 Tobacco Card!

Well, it certainly took me long enough (just over 7 years now since I got back into collecting), but I've finally landed my very first T206 tobacco card!  I don't know why it took me so long, as a lover of all things vintage it's hard to get much cooler than this:

I've had it for a couple of weeks now and I still smile whenever I look at it.  Jake's got great visual appeal, while at the same time displaying the rounded corners, folds and stains that a card of 100+ years should have.  Although it's not proper fielding form by any stretch of the imagination, I love the picture itself with the subject's arms upraised, and BOSTON prominently displayed on the uniform.  Here's a closer look:

This officially becomes (and will likely always be) my oldest Red Sox card, and my oldest baseball card period as a matter of fact.  I can certainly see the appeal of these tobacco releases, there's just something fascinating about a card that's been around for well over a century at this point.

Here's a look at the back, I think they guy operating the printing press may have been a bit "tipsy on the job" the day this one came off the line, as it's quite a bit off-center.  I don't mind in the least especially since the front is fine, and it certainly seems to have made this card more affordable.  I always assumed a genuine, authenticated T206 would set me back a hefty sum, so you can imagine my shock when I landed this one for less than $30!

I will most certainly be picking up some more of these if I can find them at that kind of price in the future...