I picked up what I thought was a really neat piece in the last REA auction - a c.1910 investment pamphlet from the Baseball Magazine Company promoting shares in the company. Here was the REA description -
"Exceedingly rare soft-cover pamphlet issued in promotion of "The Baseball Magazine Company," circa 1910. This 32-page pamphlet was produced by the Baseball Magazine Company (Boston, Massachusetts) to inform potential investors of the company's offering of shares to the public. The highlight of the pamphlet, as far as baseball collectors are concerned, is the final few pages, which feature the iconic portrait images of Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb taken by noted Boston baseball photographer Carl Horner. The pamphlet also includes a full-page image of Frank Chance and his wife seated in their automobile. Also included is a "Stock Subscription" blank form (5 x 7 inches) for one to purchase shares in the company. The offered pamphlet (6 x 9.25 inches) remains in a remarkable state of preservation, with only light handling wear, and is in Ex-Mt condition. This is the first example of this pamphlet we have ever seen."
I mostly stick to cards but I thought it was a great way to get period-piece Cobb and Wagner Horner portraits for pennies compared to a T206 or cabinet. And I had what I thought would be a neat display idea. I won the pamphlet and it arrived looking great.
The pamphlet discusses the history of the magazine, announces the issuing of shares, and discusses why it's a good investment. (I scanned the entire thing if anyone is interested in seeing it.) Then it describes the various departments in the company. One in particular caught my eye - the Baseball Art Department. It discusses how the company began issuing posters of baseball players in news stands. I assume these were M113 posters?
There were also a few photo pages towards the end of the pamphlet, including the Cobb/Wagner portraits, Frank Chance, and fans leaving a game.
Although the pamphlet was interesting, I was mostly interested in displaying the Cobb & Wagner portraits. I had the pamphlet framed with the portrait page open, using the T206 card background colors for the mat on each portrait. Fortunately, the pamphlet opens flat, so we were able to frame the entire pamphlet without any adhesive and without removing any staples/pages or altering it in any way, so it could always be taken back out. I think it looks really neat - interested to hear what others think!
