anyone know what this is?

[pbspelly]

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=258&pictureid=4734


I'm not sure where I got it, but it's very strange. It looks like someone took a photo of Billy Sullivan Sr in the field, printed the photo and then cut out his outline from his ankles up, placed the outline against a white background and re-photographed it.

Someone wrote "Sullivan, Catcher, Chicago Americans" and "673-15" on the top. My guess is that this was written around the time it was printed, since its my understanding that people stopped referring to the Sox as the Americans in the early part of the 20th century.

The back says FROM GEORGE GRANTHAM BAIN (the last name is a bit muddled so that is my best guess), 82 UNION SQUARE EAST, N.Y., This Picture not to be re-sold, for your use only, Mar 31 1909

and then there is the number 4237 in the corner
http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=258&pictureid=4763
It's aboout 4.5" by 6.5" in size

Any ideas of what this is or why someone would cut an outline like that and then re-shoot it?

[Exhibitman]

Off the top o' my head:

(1) Print Publication Artwork:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/boxingphotographsandephemera/large/Carnera%20Willard%20artwork.JPG

(2) Card Art:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/interestingexhibitcards/websize/Waner%201.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/interestingexhibitcards/websize/Waner%202.jpg

[Jaybird]

They did this all the time for printing in newspapers or other publications (as Adam states). George Bain news service was a provider of photos for publications and was affliated with United Press. They provided photos for newspapers mostly but other publications as well. Most likely Sullivan was the subject of the article and they wanted to highlight him so they cut out the surroundings and background to show him more prominently. Common practice.

[pbspelly]

thanks