By DB Sikes
Card Subject Overview
Ferdinand de Lesseps, the famed French diplomat and engineer, is best known for his leadership in constructing the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most consequential engineering feats. Though later criticized for the failed Panama Canal attempt, de Lesseps remains a towering figure in global infrastructure history. His presence in the T68 Heroes of History set represents not just his international acclaim, but the broader worldview captured by this American tobacco series.
His inclusion among U.S. presidents, generals, and patriots speaks to the educational and global aspirations of the set. For a supporting subject, de Lesseps quietly delivers one of the most complete back-type representations in the series.
“Without canals, there would be stagnation not only of waters but of commerce and civilization.”
– Ferdinand de Lesseps
Card Checklist
✅ All known backs and variations completed:
- Royal Bengals (Factory 2)
- Royal Bengals (Factory 17)
- Miners Extra (Regular)
- Miners Extra (Short Cut)
- Pan Handle Scrap (Blue)
- Natural Leaf Scrap
- Blank Back (Unconfirmed)
De Lesseps is among the few Tier 3 figures with confirmed examples from all major back types, including Factory 2 and 17, both Pan Handle Scrap ink shades, and a documented short-cut Miners Extra.
Rarity Tier & Difficulty Level
Ferdinand de Lesseps is a Tier 3 – Supporting Cast subject within the T68 Heroes of History set. Despite this, his card’s appearance across all key tobacco brands makes him an unexpectedly rewarding challenge for collectors. The rarity of some backs, particularly Natural Leaf elevates his collecting difficulty.
Acquisition Journey
The Pan Handle Scrap (Blue) version was the toughest to track, eventually secured from an Ebay auction after six months of outreach & searching. The Royal Bengals Factory 17 card appeared in a mixed factory lot, while the Factory 2 version came from a personal sale out of Pennsylvania. The Natural Leaf Scrap surfaced in a card lot sale in which 11 other rare Natural Leaf Cards were purchased.
The Miners Extra short cut was obtained in ungraded form and exhibits classic dimension reduction consistent with alternate tobacco packaging. The standard Miners Extra were sourced from eBay.
Printing & Distribution Notes
De Lesseps cards maintain high lithographic quality across both Factory 2 and 17. Print clarity is consistent, with minor differences in border thickness and ink warmth. His presence across Miners Extra, Natural Leaf, and both shades of Pan Handle Scrap suggests that his card was circulated across various tobacco product channels, despite his non-American status.
Visual Archive
Each of the De Lesseps cards in this run reflects a different stage of production and preservation:
- Royal Bengals Factory 17
- Royal Bengals Factory 2
- Miners Extra (Regular)
- Miners Extra Short Cut
- Natural Leaf Scrap
- Pan Handle Scrap (Blue): SGC 2
Each has been professionally scanned to preserve back-print distinctions, especially the ink shade differences across Pan Handle issues.
Shades of Blue: A Pan Handle Comparison
One of the most intriguing elements of the De Lesseps back-run lies in the subtle but noticeable variation in blue ink used for Pan Handle Scrap cards. Collectors have noted at least two distinct shades:
- A deep navy blue, often consistent and bold almost black in appearance
- A lighter steel or powder blue, with less inking saturation and more surface fade
These differences may reflect variations in print batch, ink supply, or humidity at the time of production. While not exclusive to De Lesseps, his card provides one of the clearest side-by-side examples of this ink shift. These shades contribute to ongoing research into the timeline and press variability at Factory No. 10, 5th District of New Jersey, where Pan Handle cards were produced.
Research Notes
Ferdinand de Lesseps appears in various international or “world builder” thematic T68 groupings. His back-run includes examples from Factory 10 (New Jersey – Pan Handle) and Factory 17 (Virginia – Royal Bengals), supporting geographic distribution theories. No known error or blank-back examples have surfaced.
De Lesseps is one of only a few foreign figures to appear across all major scrap brand lines, indicating his broad inclusion in educational tobacco premiums despite lacking American roots.
Personal Reflection
Completing the de Lesseps back-run became a quiet pursuit of mine, not because he is a star of the set, but because he represents the underrated backbone of what makes T68 great: diversity of subject, global vision, and production depth. The engineering grandeur of the Suez Canal, mirrored in the visual strength of this card design, gives de Lesseps a permanent spot in my collection.
While not flashy, this run is complete, balanced, and historically relevant a testament to how even supporting cast members can tell big stories.
Category Tags
• Subject Name: Ferdinand de Lesseps
• Variation Type: Pan Handle Scrap (Blue), Natural Leaf Scrap, Miners Extra (Regular & Short Cut), Royal Bengals Factory 2 & 17
• Rarity Tier: Tier 4- True Commons
• Year: 1910–1911
• T68 Series: Series One
• Full Back-Type Completed: ✅
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