Thoughts On Vintage Snapshot Photographs
 

Just wondering what the boards thoughts on vintage snapshots are, they seem to be an area of collecting that's picking up lately. Nice ones seem to be going for more than they did a year ago when I first started picking up a few. There was a nice run of 1933 Yankees shots that went off on ebay today and some brought some good coin (Gehrig $430, stars around $100 each). Personally, I like them!
Jeff

Snap Shot Photos
 

I know I think there pretty cool and for what I collect only come around every once in a while and go for decent money when they do become available.

They are pretty slick. Even if you didn't take the snaps, today, they give you a vicarious sensation that you were there and did.

I really like them. I don't necessarily go out of my way for them but will pick them up when they are inexpensive enough and they speak to me. I love the vintage fan aspect as well as the unique quality.

Snapshots have been going up in price over the years. That's a fact.

However, the ones you are talking about went for crazy amounts...and I would consider a serious outlier. Lefty Gomez $79..??? Tony Lazzeri $112?! Bill Dickey $64?!? Common snapshots $30- 40? It seems to be the same two people. Not saying it's shill, but I have plenty of these snapshots, I'll sell at half those prices if interested! :)

They’re fun. A nice one can sell well. They definitely give me a feel for the game and it’s people back in the day that cards sometimes don’t.

I think those particular snapshots sold high for a couple of reasons. First, it's the Yankees, second, for their age they're really sharp and in focus. That was the reason I picked up a couple!

Always wondered why snaps get so little love. If someone finds some obscure card tomorrow with Babe Ruth on it, it's immediately big news and people go nuts. Well a snapshot is a one of a kind rarity. I am sure most hard core photo guys turn their noses up at them. Granted, the quality is all over the place and they aren't from a famous photographer. I see both sides of it but think they are worthy of a lot more respect than they often get.

If I had the classic attic find tomorrow of 100 amazing Ruth Gehrig snapshots I doubt it would make a ripple. No article from Forbes. No article in Sports Collector Daily. Seems odd.

I picked up the Joe Sewell. It's not the best snapper but, it's actually the first snapshot of Joe Sewell, I've personally seen. I can see your point, but I think the real appeal to the price is, due to it's actually a set. It's not a random Lefty Gomez, Bill Dickey, etc.. it belong in a very nice set and tells its own story...in which a few people ( IMO ) were trying hard to bid to keep it together. Which is why I think the prices were strong.

I picked up the Gomez, Ruffing & McCarthy from that collection (You beat me on the Sewell!) I was in on some others but got outbid!

I may have picked up the Gehrig you are referring to.

Baseball snapshots are the bastards in the baseball hobby.They seem to forgotten and alone in their own category. If you see a photo, and it doesn't have the seal of approval of a Underwood, Conlon, or Bain...people think it's not that valuable.

I'm a huge advocate of snapshots, but in the hobby world they're flawed. Why? It's Achilles heel, it's almost too unique. They're 1/1 and taken by an amateur photographer. Nothing to compare it. So people in the hobby don't know if they are getting a steal or getting ripped off. However, on the plus side...you can command you're own price ( within reason) since there's nothing of exactly the same.

When I see a Conlon photo, I don't get the same goosebumps because, it's professional photo taken by professional photographer. Seeing a candid amateur snapshot is special, it's a glimpse of a craze fan trying to meet their baseball hero.

It's great that snapshots are finally getting attention since they are such a unique piece of history. Fans make the game.

Perfectly said!

"Baseball snapshots are the bastards in the baseball hobby.They seem to forgotten and alone in their own category."

I wonder if the same was said about baseball postcards before they became the valuable collectibles they are today. Maybe it's good to get in on the "ground floor" of an area in collecting that hasn't had much attention paid to it?

I used to own thousands of them. Wish I still had them. I still do have a couple hundred, but not nearly the collection I used to own.

Dan,

Any Brooksie?!? I’d be interested 😀

Thought I would share this site and book.

http://www.fantography.com

https://m.facebook.com/Fantographycom-130417801064/

There is also a book Baseball Fantography: A Celebration in Snapshots and Stories from the Fans
By Fantography LLC, Andy Strasberg

What I like about snaps is the spontaneous nature of them. A fan was there, the player was there, and usually there was an interaction between the fan and player that led to the photo being taken; the whole record of it is right there on the paper. They are sort of low-tech selfies. Here is a 1948 Durocher; you know there was a fan calling out to Leo to stand still for a photo:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20snapshot.jpg

They can also have a lot more personality than posed pro shots. The Cubbies on Catalina Island for spring training, doing a seven dwarves thing through Avalon:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20Catalina.jpg

Billy Cox outside Ebbetts Field. How often do you see a ballplayer now just walking into the stadium with the people?

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ebsize/Cox.jpg

Preacher Roe:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ebsize/Roe.jpg

Ernie Harwell:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ze/Harwell.jpg

Joe Louis at a train depot in WWII; the photographer must've asked The Brown Bomber for a photo op:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20Snapshot.jpg

Young Rocky Marciano at a training camp posing for the fan:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...shot%201_1.jpg

Damm those are all nice.

Candid moments frozen in time. Not that there is anything wrong with cards or professional photos. . . .but these are sweet.

I thought this one was interesting too:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi.../NL%20snap.jpg

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...0snap%20cu.jpg

Doesn't appear to be anyone of note, just a nice early snap of African-American players.

Great book! It was one of my first "hobby" books. A must have for a snapshot lover!

I can only speak for Citi Field, but the height of the fence around the players' parking lot prevents fans from having a real "I got to meet a ballplayer" experience - the Mets' Eric Young, Jr. in this case, but it applies to all players.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2878/1...75fe884a_c.jpg
(Photo taken September 29, 2013. © Gary Dunaier. Link to upload on Flickr.com: here.)

Interesting scene.

I picked up a huge collection of snapshot photos a number of months ago. I am slowly learning more about them. Here are a few.