1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner vs. 1911-16 Kotton Honus Wagner: Who Has More?

[jimonym]

This thread is spectacular.

NB, multiple factory numbers don't necessarily imply separate free-standing buildings or facilities. Under the internal revenue regulations, operations for the manufacture of cigarettes and the manufacture of smoking and chewing tobacco had to be kept separate, but could coexist under one roof if there was adequate physical separation. Apparently it was too difficult to track tobacco leaf usage if the two types of manufacturing were commingled -- and the tracking of leaf input and product output is what allowed the tax collectors to verify that no untaxed product was slipping out the back door. Registered factory numbers were connected to the distinct operations around the category of product (cigars/cigarettes v. loose tobacco), not the bricks and mortar structure.

I believe the People's Tobacco Co. had one facility, located at the address on Richard's letterhead. Here's a detailed Sanborn map from 1908 showing the factory property. The PTC was a pretty small-time operation: note the structure at its tallest was just 1 1/2 stories. The main factories of the Trust at this time were generally each on the order of 5 to 10 times larger, and the Trust had well over 20 in operation.

[DixieBaseball]

Jim - Very interesting, Thanks for posting the Peoples Factory Map. What I was referring to on Factory 3 and 4 were People's Tobacco & Red Sun Tobacco. I think we talked about this on another thread awhile back, but not sure anyone has confirmed where Red Sun Tobacco was located at or was it a sub-tobacco leasee within a company like People's ? I find the mystery fascinating and it would seem that the road to figuring out Red Sun, might possibly be through other area tobacco companies in the area.

Thanks again for the info you provided -

J

[jimonym]

Jeremy,

Red Sun (the T211 Red Sun) was a brand produced by the W.R. Irby Cigar & Tobacco Company of New Orleans. Factory 3 in Louisiana was connected with their operations. They were purchased by ATC in 1899. Afterwards the facility became known as the Irby Branch of the American Tobacco Company and it continued to exclusively produce the former Irby brands for distribution primarily in the South and Southwest. The Irby structures were just a few blocks from the PTC.

[FrankWakefield]

I have only one Kotton card. I've never seen a Kotton package / pouch, that's great!!! I think this thread has taken a detour, one that I find enjoyable. Great stuff. As for the original question, I'd think there are more Wagner T206s about today than there are Wagner Kotton cards. Kotton cards are about as scarce as Kotton collectors. I'd think many of the folks who have a Kotton card have only one. Someone collecting the set, he's The Man.

[uffda51]

[three25hits]