{"id":442,"date":"2026-04-04T15:29:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442"},"modified":"2026-04-04T15:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:43:13","slug":"shades-of-blue-1-abraham-lincoln","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442","title":{"rendered":"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Pan Handle Scrap Printing Study<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By D.B. Sikes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expanding on the research presented in the Pan Handle Scrap Factory 10 article.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>, these cards were inserted into packages of loose scrap chewing tobacco and are identifiable by the reverse stamp reading \u201cFactory No. 10, 5th Dist. N.J.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This column documents those shades and builds a\u00a0visual census of Pan Handle Scrap backs<\/strong>\u00a0using recurring control subjects such as Abraham Lincoln.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Three Pan Handle Blue Families<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All confirmed Pan Handle Scrap blue backs fall into three consistent shade groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Collectors pursuing advanced subsets often attempt to acquire all three shades for a single subject<\/strong>, creating a miniature print study within the larger T68 master set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Control Subject Analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To study printing variation effectively, certain card subjects appear frequently enough in surviving Pan Handle Scrap examples to serve as control subjects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cards allow researchers to compare how the same design appears across different ink runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primary control subjects currently used in this study include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Abraham Lincoln<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Stonewall Jackson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 George Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Julius Caesar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Admiral Farragut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Ethan Allen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Daniel Boone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUBJECT FEATURE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abraham Lincoln<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most iconic cards in the T68 set, Lincoln provides an ideal reference point for shade comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dark Navy Example<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Characteristics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Deep navy ink saturation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Strong border contrast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Thick, heavy typography<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Medium Steel Blue Example<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Characteristics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Slight gray-blue tone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Lighter impression in lettering<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Softer border definition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Powder Blue Example<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Characteristics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Pale blue ink tone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Lower saturation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Reduced visual contrast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Factory Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Printing at Factory No. 10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pan Handle Scrap cards were inserted into chewing tobacco packages manufactured at Factory No. 10 in Jersey City<\/strong>, part of the American Tobacco Company\u2019s distribution network.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The shade variations documented here likely stem from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 changes in ink mixture during press runs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 plate cleaning and re-inking cycles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 paper absorption differences during printing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These differences create a natural progression of color intensity across surviving cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2e3b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Pan Handle Shade Census<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This project will track every documented example using three data points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Card subject<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Ink shade classification<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Image source or collection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The long term goal is to determine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 which subjects exist across all three shades<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 whether certain shades cluster around specific discoveries or auction lots<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 how ink variation reflects printing sequence at Factory 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2e3b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Future Installments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Upcoming columns will examine additional control subjects including<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 George Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Julius Caesar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Admiral Farragut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Ethan Allen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Each entry will expand the visual census and refine the classification system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2e3b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Collector Note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Advanced collectors often consider assembling a three shade run of a single subject<\/strong> to be one of the most rewarding micro-sets within Pan Handle Scrap collecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln - T68 Masters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln - T68 Masters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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 […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"T68 Masters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-04T15:29:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-04T15:43:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"681\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"483\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"dbsikes3\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"dbsikes3\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442\",\"name\":\"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln - T68 Masters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-04T15:29:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-04T15:43:13+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/614018f851890a9f71da82ae1f472b88\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png\",\"width\":681,\"height\":483},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/\",\"name\":\"T68 Masters\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/614018f851890a9f71da82ae1f472b88\",\"name\":\"dbsikes3\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/864d6c484ad49bbed8f541202911d4e060accccf99c32239a0e9998b45c7bfa9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/864d6c484ad49bbed8f541202911d4e060accccf99c32239a0e9998b45c7bfa9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"dbsikes3\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/t68masters.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln - T68 Masters","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln - T68 Masters","og_description":"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 […]","og_url":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442","og_site_name":"T68 Masters","article_published_time":"2026-04-04T15:29:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-04T15:43:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":681,"height":483,"url":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"dbsikes3","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"dbsikes3","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442","url":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442","name":"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln - T68 Masters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png","datePublished":"2026-04-04T15:29:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-04T15:43:13+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/614018f851890a9f71da82ae1f472b88"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pan-Handle-Scrap-Navy-Lincoln-front-and-back.png","width":681,"height":483},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?p=442#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"SHADES OF BLUE #1 Abraham Lincoln"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/","name":"T68 Masters","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/614018f851890a9f71da82ae1f472b88","name":"dbsikes3","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/864d6c484ad49bbed8f541202911d4e060accccf99c32239a0e9998b45c7bfa9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/864d6c484ad49bbed8f541202911d4e060accccf99c32239a0e9998b45c7bfa9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"dbsikes3"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/t68masters.com"],"url":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=442"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":459,"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions\/459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/t68masters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}