A Pan Handle Scrap Printing Study
By D.B. Sikes
Expanding on the research presented in the Pan Handle Scrap Factory 10 article.
Within the T68 Heroes of History series, Pan Handle Scrap backs remain one of the most distinctive factory issues in the entire set. Produced for the American Tobacco Company at Factory No. 10 in Jersey City, these cards were inserted into packages of loose scrap chewing tobacco and are identifiable by the reverse stamp reading “Factory No. 10, 5th Dist. N.J.”
Collectors have long recognized that Pan Handle Scrap backs appear in multiple shades of blue ink. Rather than representing fading or aging, these variations are now understood as repeatable production differences likely caused by ink batch changes or press adjustments during lithographic printing.
This column documents those shades and builds a visual census of Pan Handle Scrap backs using recurring control subjects such as Abraham Lincoln.
The Three Pan Handle Blue Families
All confirmed Pan Handle Scrap blue backs fall into three consistent shade groups.
Collectors pursuing advanced subsets often attempt to acquire all three shades for a single subject, creating a miniature print study within the larger T68 master set.
Control Subject Analysis
To study printing variation effectively, certain card subjects appear frequently enough in surviving Pan Handle Scrap examples to serve as control subjects.
These cards allow researchers to compare how the same design appears across different ink runs.
Primary control subjects currently used in this study include:
• Abraham Lincoln
• Stonewall Jackson
• George Washington
• Julius Caesar
• Admiral Farragut
• Ethan Allen
• Daniel Boone
SUBJECT FEATURE
Abraham Lincoln
One of the most iconic cards in the T68 set, Lincoln provides an ideal reference point for shade comparison.
Dark Navy Example
Characteristics
• Deep navy ink saturation
• Strong border contrast
• Thick, heavy typography
Medium Steel Blue Example
Characteristics
- Slight gray-blue tone
- Lighter impression in lettering
- Softer border definition
Powder Blue Example
Characteristics
• Pale blue ink tone
• Lower saturation
• Reduced visual contrast
Factory Context
Printing at Factory No. 10
Pan Handle Scrap cards were inserted into chewing tobacco packages manufactured at Factory No. 10 in Jersey City, part of the American Tobacco Company’s distribution network.
Unlike cigarette insert cards protected inside sealed packs, these cards were housed directly in loose tobacco scrap packages. As a result, many surviving examples show staining or toning from prolonged contact with tobacco.
The shade variations documented here likely stem from:
• changes in ink mixture during press runs
• plate cleaning and re-inking cycles
• paper absorption differences during printing
These differences create a natural progression of color intensity across surviving cards.
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The Pan Handle Shade Census
This project will track every documented example using three data points:
• Card subject
• Ink shade classification
• Image source or collection
The long term goal is to determine:
• which subjects exist across all three shades
• whether certain shades cluster around specific discoveries or auction lots
• how ink variation reflects printing sequence at Factory 10
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Future Installments
Upcoming columns will examine additional control subjects including
• George Washington
• Julius Caesar
• Admiral Farragut
• Ethan Allen
Each entry will expand the visual census and refine the classification system.
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Collector Note
Advanced collectors often consider assembling a three shade run of a single subject to be one of the most rewarding micro-sets within Pan Handle Scrap collecting.
As new lots surface and more examples are documented, the Shades of Blue column will continue expanding the visual archive for this fascinating factory issue.
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