Oliver Optics Magazine question

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Posted By: Alan Elefson

Hi-
I recently bought a few Oliver Optics Our Boys and Girls magazines from 1869 and I had a question regarding a specific issue. Before the question I must say that these are an incredibly cheap way to get an early baseball image as well as early pro baseball content (I have a few 1869 issues that list player statistics as well as commentary on how teams did in 1868 and will do in 1869). I got my grouping (6 issues but ony 2 still had the baseball cover) for 10 dollars, but I checked the web and have seen some priced even cheaper. I know it must be because, while the inside contains at least one baseball article, the cover showing the boy holding the bat never changes (I have seen mid 1870s issues with the same cover). Because of how cheap they can be found I think this is an easy way to obtain early pro baseball information.
Here is my rather obscure question. Please see the scans of the two issues I have with the baseball cover. The first is the January 16th issue and the second is the January 23rd issue. In the first scan, there is a pen mark crossing out the page information as well as the date because the page information is the same as the January 23rd issue. My question is, does any one else have the January 16th issue of this magazine and if so, does it have the correct page information and date printed, or is it corrected as mine is, or ???
I am also curious if this magazine started using this cover when it began (based on the fact that my examples are from volume 5, 1869, I am guessing the magazine began in 1865 or thereabouts)? Does anyone know when the baseball article became a regular feature (it is called Our National Game and it appears in every issue I own despite them dating from January and Febuary, 1869)? Any other information regarding these would be greatly appreciated.
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com