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1910-Era Old Mill Cigarettes Unopened Pack - First Example We Have EVER Offered That Could Possibly Contain a T206 or T210 Card!
- Sold For: $3,900
- Year: 1909
- Auction: 2017 Fall
- Lot #: 257
- Auction Category: Unopened Packs and Boxes
Presented is an original unopened pack of Old Mill cigarettes (Factory 25, Dist. VA.) dating from the era of T206 and T210 tobacco cards! This is a remarkable rarity. An unopened T206/T210-era pack is FAR rarer than collectors realize. In fact, this is the first Old Mill example we have ever offered! Over the years we have seen and been offered countless unopened tobacco packs (all turned down by REA, including numerous erroneously dated "graded" packs) that allegedly were from the T206 era and which, upon researching the actual dating of the packs, were from a more recent era. We have also seen numerous unopened packs offered for sale and at public auction elsewhere as possibly containing a T206 that, upon checking the packaging, with a little research, were simply NOT from the T206 era. This is the first and only unopened Old Mill pack that we have ever seen, let alone handled, that actually dates from the era in which T206s and T210s were issued and could actually contain a T206 or T210 card! We should clarify that there is absolutely no guarantee that there is, in fact, a T206 or T210 inside this unopened Old Mill pack. There is really no way for us to know with certainty. It is even possible the pack includes a nonsport card.
This Old Mill pack was discovered two years ago at an estate sale in Bismarck, North Dakota by an advanced tobacco-pack collector. The sale featured several vintage cigar and tobacco packs dating from the 1910-era, including a few Fatima packs along with a variety of other brands, but obviously the highlight was the Old Mill packs with the original outer carton. (Our consignor did not find out until a few days later that they still had the original outer carton, which they were going to discard until he had the sense to ask about outer cartons.) There was a total of ten Old Mill packs at the sale that our consignor purchased, two of which (including the one offered here) had their original cellophane wrapper still intact. Our consignor is keeping the other for his personal collection. He traded away three of the additional packs (all without cellophane wrapper) to other collectors along the way and has disclosed that five packs remain (also without cellophane wrapper), which he is keeping with the original outer carton for display purposes.
While collectors will appreciate this pack for its tremendous rarity regardless of its condition, the pack has miraculously survived in Excellent condition over the past century. Bright and clean, with only a few tears to the outer wrapper, the pack remains firm and crisp. The tax stamp and slide are all fully intact. We would not recommend anyone purchasing this pack attempt to open it, as not only could this be very expensive, but the possibility exists for disappointment if there were no card at all or one were to wind up with a card from some nonsport tobacco-card set. This pack is special enough, unopened, as very possibly containing a Factory 25 T206 or T210 card (certainly one of the most probable we have ever seen). But if the winner does decide to open it, we hope they will document the event, perhaps doing it live or on video so that all interested collectors can share the experience. We are amazed at the rarity of a true T206/T210 unopened pack and the fact that this is the first of its type we have ever encountered. This is a fascinating and exciting item for any advanced T206, T210, or unopened-pack collector. Reserve $500. Estimate (open).
