Pennant Quilt Pickup Opinions

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Posted By: Keith

Hey guys,

I wanted to get some opinions regarding a recent pickup of mine. It is a large circa 1910 quilt that is decorated with approximately 30 vintage pennants. Most of the pennants are college or tourist/advertising pennants, but 2 of them caught my eye. 1 is a circa 1910? oversized White Sox pennant which measures in at about 38 inches long. The other is a 30 inch pennant that reads Metropoliton, with the letters MBC on the left. Could this be for the Metropolitan Baseball Club? The quilt does have some condition issues with some pennants missing, and loose stictching in areas. I was considering removing the pennants because of the condition, and based on some of the loose stitching, this could be done very easily, and the pennants would come off great with no damage. I wanted to get your opinion regarding the date and value of the Sox pennant, and as well get your opinion on the possiblity of the Metropolitan pennant being for the Metropolitan baseball club. Also, in your opinion, would it be quilt despite its condition have more value in its entirety, and would it be unwise for me to remove the pennants?

Thanks guys

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Posted By: Mark

I don't know about the Metropolitans, but that does appear to be a killer White Sox Pennant, circa 1910 or so (great estimate!)

The choice of whether to remove it or not is yours, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally would remove the White Sox Pennant and frame it. Oversized Pennants of this vintage are exceedingly rare and desirable.

As for value, the condition appears compromised, and it's inevitably going to have lots of stitching holes. I would still estimate the value at around $1,600 - $2,000. This is a variation I've never seen, and it might be a lone surviving example. If two bidders in an auction really wanted it, they could easily drive the price up over $4,000.

I believe the Pennant alone has more value than the total Quilt. If the Metropolitans Pennant is what you think/hope, then there is no question of that. Perhaps another member can chime in with more info/opinions on that one. Great post, and amazing pickup... Congrats!

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Posted By: Mike H

I don't think the Metropolitan is a team pennant.

The Sox pennant is terrific. Is the player on it a piece of brown felt that is coming away? I would have it removed and that player re-stitched.

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Posted By: Keith

Thanks Mike and Mark.

Yes, the player on the Sox pennant is a thick felt and it is a little loose in some areas. Is there someone that is reputable in restoring/restitching these type of items? Also, as to the thread holes, in the area of the pennant that has come loose from the quilt, the holes are barely noticeable, so I don't anticipate that being a major blemish on the pennant. I probably won't be hanging onto the quilt/or sox pennant as I am mostly a football collector and have talked to a couple different people about selling it/consigning it already.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Wow! Great pickup Keith....do you mind telling us where you acquired the quilt and how much you gave for it? The only thing I can think of for the Metropolitan pennant would be Metropolitan Business College although I am unsure how long it has been around. The Metropolitan baseball club was only around for a few years in the 1880s so I'm with the other guys in thinking it's probably not baseball.

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Posted By: Keith

It was an ebay pickup, sort of tucked away in the quilt section, and not listed under sports at all. I paid $600 for it.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Nice! You should do very well with that White Sox pennant. Congrats!

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Posted By: Keith

Thanks Dan.

Also, I just realized that the player is not felt, but rather a leather.