Before someone else chimes in with a more complete T206 history, I'll point out that it's more than just that set.
There was some some degree of regional nature to the brands, for example, Drum being mostly around the St. Louis area. Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, and Polar Bear were the most widespread, if I'm remembering correctly, although still east of the Rockies.
Old Mill was more in the South, and so that's why SL cards are found in that brand, as well as having their own separate set with only SL players, the T210s. The T211 Red Suns use the T210 photos from the last series and were distributed mostly in Louisiana. There are other Louisiana brands that are pretty rare (and I'd love it if somebody could connect them to ATC for me since I'm struggling to find the connections myself.)
With the T212 Obaks covering the PCL and NWL, the American Tobacco company got fairly close to national coverage.
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