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JimmyEric explains the situation well above, by the turn of the century cigarettes and other tobacco products were not restricted by the government as much. Before the 1880s tobacco sales were controlled and regulated by the government. This all changed when the American Tobacco Company made its mark on the industry and changed distribution methods forcing the government to level off for 20 or 30 years. Between 1908 and 1911 the American Tobacco Company was forced to break away part of the industry so there would be fair distribution throughout the country. The government realized they created a problem and forced the American Tobacco Company to distribute with different brand names and forcing the company to break apart. Which is why we have a great selection of backs for the T206 and T205 set, by 1912 the American Tobacco Company needed an outlet to try and make more money because they were loosing the control they had for so many years. The company was once again forced to make change and they formed a partnership with the British Tobacco Company. Many cards and sets were produced in England between in the 1920s and 1930s.
In the 1930s things changed for the United States making it possible for many different companies to form in large cities to expand employment for hard working families. The government once again had a say in the distribution of goods sold throughout the country and made changes for alcohol and tobacco products. This formed a trend to sell more candy in the 1930s adding Baseball cards so kids would buy more and more. The trend would last until the start of World War II as many of the factories were needed for the war effort and forced many of the companies out of business. In the 1950s the idea was supported once again and gum and baseball cards would form a partnership for years to come. There is much more detail to the history and distribution, but if not for these trends we may not have any baseball cards to collect or at least the selection we have today.
Jimmy