Exciting New Discovery Of One Of The Earliest Known Cards

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Posted By: Jason W

Just wanted to share with you what I think is an exciting new baseball card discovery representing one of the two or three earliest baseball cards known to exist. This 1866 CDV baseball card, the only known specimen, features a photographic image of the famous Currier & Ives American National Game of Base Ball lithograph on the front. The reverse features an advertisement for George Gratton's "Baltimore Base Ball Emporium" on the reverse. This establishment was one of the first in the country to specialize in all products relating to baseball, including "bases, batts (sic), spikes, scores, shoes, shirts, caps, books" etc. and predates A. G Spalding & Bros. by 12 years. The Baltimore Base Ball Emporium, located on Baltimore Street east of Calvert, had its grand opening in 1866. Based on the style of the card, the year of the grand opening of the store, and the year of issue of the Currier & Ives print featured on the front, it is a virtual certainty that this advertising card dates from 1866. PSA agree with my assessment and have encapsulated & authenticated it as 1866.

Few realize that the players featured on this print are not generic depictions. Six members of the Athletics can be clearly identified at the bottom right. They are: Sid Smith, Joe Start, Dickey Pierce, Fred Crane, John Galvin, and Tom Pratt. In the crowd scene, facing the viewer, is Pete O'Brien. Because of the small scale of the CDV image, identification of the players is difficult on the CDV, but O'Brien in particular can still be easily identified with a magnifying glass on the CDV.

What do you guys think about the old earliest card debate? Is the 1863 Hoboken Grand Match Harry Wright a baseball card or just a ticket? Has the date of the circa 1865 Jim Creighton Peck & Snyder Memorial CDV been confirmed or just an estimate? Is this 1866 C&I National Game BBBE CDV a big deal in the baseball collector’s world or just a mild curiosity?