c1891 Pennsylvania Billiards Championship Imperial Photo P/U

[CarltonHendricks]

I received this photo this past week of the participants of the Pennsylvania Billiards Championship of 1891...I've never really been a photo guy but occasionally come across one that hits the gotta have it level...For me they gotta be good sized, interesting, and rare...This is now my best billiards piece!

For me the hand written dip pen calligraphy above and below the photo is everything to the image...giving the who what and when of what you're looking at...The cherry on top is the miniature billiard table trophy in the center...and tying it all together...it's American!!!...we're not looking at dapper brits or anything…

Was very happy to find the newspaper clipping on the tournament results.....which references the Stroup trophy (They called it an "Emblem")...and also mentions "The six contestants will be photographed in a group to-day"...no doubt a reference to this photo...

Also found a death notice of John C. Stroup...who donated the trophy...and which gives an excellent discription of it, diamonds and all, seen at the bottom this page...After researching the term "public house"...it appears to indicate a bar...i.e. tavern...Confirming that is the part that he lost his licence...meaning liquor licence I presume