1933 Pittsburgh Crawfords Broadside/Poster

[bcbgcbrcb]

I am looking through some old auction archives and came across the below pictured item a couple of times. I have seen it described as an original period piece and also as a modern reproduction. Can any of you Negro League experts out there confirm that at least one original exists or is this merely a modern fantasy piece?

[ElCabron]

I can't speak to this particular one, but I believe I've seen another example before that I believed to be legit. This one doesn't have the look of a modern fantasy piece. More likely a reproduction if it's not original.

I can already see the exacto in your mind ready to dissect the crap out of this piece, Phil. Individual card-looking period pieces of Charleston, Gibson, Paige, etc. Pretty amazing item.

-Ryan

[bcbgcbrcb]

Thanks for the input, Ryan. I learned my lesson the hard way and don't do that anymore, too little too late, I'm afraid but..........

[Jaybird]

Interesting piece. Has the layout of a back page newspaper ad but not the color. Did the description mention the paper stock?

[bcbgcbrcb]

Poster is the way that the paper stock is described, not cardboard.

[Brian Van Horn]

I can't say whether or not it is original or a fantasy piece, but the first thing I think of when I see this is the Pittsburgh Courier. I do not see a fold in the piece and I have to wonder its origin.

[jerseygary]

I came across this piece when I was working on a book about the 1933 Pittsburgh Crawfords. As a graphic designer and prop maker for movies I'm almost positive that it is not a fantasy piece because the typefaces used are not readily available for the computer and most fakers won't go through the trouble of trying to use period-accurate type. I have no clue if the framed one at the beginning of this thread is real or a reprint, but I firmly believe an original exists. I would guess that they were mailed out by the Pittsburgh Crawfords ahead of scheduled games to be posted or sent to newspapers before the team came to town. I found a few reprints of this poster for sale so those do exist.