1910–1911 T3/T9 Turkey Red Cabinet Card Overview

Card Specs: 5.75" x 8”  |  126 cards  |  Color  |  Classification: Tobacco  |  Baseball: T3; Boxing T9

Introduced in 1910 by the American Tobacco Company, the T3/T9 Turkey Red set is regarded as one of the most visually striking issues of the prewar era. The "Cabinet Cards" were named as such because they were large enough to be displayed in a home's glass-front cabinet, taking the label from a nineteenth-century photography term. The checklist includes 100 baseball cards, alongside 26 boxing. These cards were catalogued separately as T9, but since their card numbers intermingled with the baseball set as card #51-76, they could've just as easily all been classified as T3.

With its release coinciding with the iconic T206 White Border set, legends like Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young, and Walter Johnson are naturally the headliners. The "Galveston Giant" Jack Johnson is the clear key card in the T9 boxing series, while Jim Jeffries and Stanley Ketchel are also desirable among collectors.

1910-1911 T3 Turkey Red Walter Johnson & Cy Young

T3/T9 Turkey Red Card Specs & Design

Each card measures an impressive 5-3/4" by 8" and features richly colored lithographic artwork framed by an embossed border, giving the appearance of a mounted portrait. Players and boxers are shown in athletic poses, and non-player-specific cards like "Safe at Third" and "Out at Second", depicting plays on the diamond are peppered into the checklist.

Backs were produced in several styles: standard checklists, blank panels, and “No Offer” advertisements, with the latter considered scarcer and more desirable. Unlike smaller T-series cards inserted in cigarette packs, T3/T9s were premium rewards redeemed through coupons from Turkey Red, Fez, or Old Mill cigarettes.

Advertising vs Checklist Reverse of Turkey Red Cabinet Cards

T3/T9 Turkey Red Cabinet Card Values

Because of their larger size, creasing and corner rounding are nearly unavoidable, making well-preserved examples scarce and highly sought-after by collectors. Grades like PSA EX 5, which would normally be considered middling, are actually at the very high-end, and key players like Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson will sell for $25k-$40k when graded as such. Even lesser known players will command four-figures at this level, with raw, or low-grade examples typically going in the low hundreds at auction.

Recent REA Auction T3/T9 Turkey Red Sales

1911 T3 Turkey Red Ty Cobb SGC EX 5 - $ 38,400 - 2025 Summer Auction

1911 T3 Turkey Red Cy Young PSA EX 5 - $19,200 - 2025 Summer Auction

1911 T3 Turkey Red Ed Walsh PSA VG-EX 4 - $3,840 - 2025 Summer Auction

1911 T3 Turkey Red Graded Master Set - $56,400 - 2025 Spring Auction

FOR MORE AUCTION RESULTS, SEARCH "TURKEY RED" IN OUR AUCTION ARCHIVE.

How to Sell 1910-1911 T3/T9 Turkey Red Cards

If you are considering selling individual Turkey Red cabinet cards or a full collection, REA is the trusted leader in prewar baseball auctions. Reach out today to connect with a specialist and learn how our tailored consignment approach can help maximize your return.