19th century ticket to a ballgame......?

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Posted By: mr. moses

Perhaps a ticket or 19th century ephemera collector might share a bit of information with me. I bought this in mid-1990's at a trade card auction. Ex-Mark Rucker collection I'm pretty sure. I don't imagine there are many earlier examples than this out there, but some people must have a few. It was for a baseball game between two printers, is dated 1867, and features a gold baseball that didn't scan too well. Is it just a trade card announcing an upcoming game or would it have been used in some manner to gain entry to the game.....?



(edited to include the actual question:-))

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Assuming the back is blank and doesn't say "This is a ticket not a trade card," my guess is that it was trade card not a ticket. Tickets usually have admission text ala 'admit one' or 'present at door.' Pre-1870 trade cards, especially color ones, are rare.

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Posted By: mr. moses

Yes the back is blank, and yes I am 90% sure it is just a trade card (well the "JUST" a bit understated). I know quite a bit about trade cards having learned much from the man that - my opinion - actually created the trade card market in the 1990's; and my own foray albeit for a brief period. That having been said, I know NOTHING about tickets and never having seen any before prefer to defer (ugh-just say no) to others.
As an aside, I have always been happy with the few things I've gotten from you"-) and I've watched your GROWTH over the past few years since that xerox guide you first published.... Nice to see you post here - thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Thanks for the sentiments. Though I never realized I moved past the Xerox stage ... The question is whether your trade card qualifies as the first known baseball card. I know of no other earlier baseball trade card or baseball card, at least one that has verified year. There are early cards where the date is debatable (Peck & Snyder James Creighton for example), while yours has the year printed on the front. And, as everyone knows by now, that 1863 thing Keith O. has is a laundry ticket which Harry Wright used for his cricket knickers.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Henry- you are correct that it was once Mark Rucker's, and if memory serves it is coated stock. As I'm sure you know, 1860's material with that glossy finish is rare and desirable.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

The first Topps Tiffany.