T206 American Beauty backs, and trim

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by canjond

Ted- I guess anything is possible, but given the expense that would most likely have been involved in changing pack size, it's probably unlikely. Maybe ABs weren't printed by the ALC and whatever printer printed them, cut them a bit thinner?

The added expense factor you noted is a good point. If ATC had any plans to market a slimmer AB pack; but, decided against it. The first AB cards (with frame)
were issued in the Summer of 1910. Two subsequent series of AB's (no frame) followed....of which the AB 460's were available at the tail-end of the T206 press
runs in the Spring of 1911.

Given the close affiliation ALC had with ATC, the American Beauty brand was part of the ATC monopoly during this T206 era; therefore, it is certain that American
Lithographic (ALC) produced the AB cards. Furthermore, the fronts of the AB cards are identical to the other T206 brands. ALC pre-printed sheets of T206 fronts;
and, then printed the various T-brand backs as requests from the various tobacco Factory's were received at ALC.


TED Z