Base Ball in Cincinnati 1907 and 1908 multiple editions

[baseballart]

Most auctions and sellers refer to the first or second edition of Ellard's book Base Ball in Cincinnati. However, in looking at the available images, I've found the following:

1907 editions
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Numbered and limited to 500
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Numbered and limited to 500. I believe this is the same edition, and there is just more wear on this copy to the gilt, but I'm not 100% sure. The scan of this book is fairly representative. (This is my copy)
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1907. Yet here's another 1907 edition. A copy was sold in Mastro in 2005, and the sale indicated that there was a plain dust jacket, with a sporting goods store's logo stamped on the front and rear flaps.
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1908 editions
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1908. This is a 1908 edition, with no limitation as to numbering (from 2008 REA auction; I have a copy of this edition)
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This appears to be another trade edition. I've lost the auction reference, but the jpg file number is "1103".

If anyone has more information on these editions, I'd love to know.

Thanks, Max

[barrysloate]

Hi Max- I may have lost you. I believe you are saying that there are three editions: a 1907 numbered, a 1907 unnumbered, and a 1908. I assumed more than 500 copies were issued in 1907, and I have seen all three of those bindings. But I don't think I answered your question.

[baseballart]

Barry

As far as I can tell, the green 1907 edition was also numbered out of 500.

The mastro link doesn't mention it being numbered http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=53928

but the Classics Collectible auction does, as does at least one other auction reference

http://www.auctionscc.com/archive/20...all-books/180/


And the last edition puzzle me--the edition with the white boards and the red lettering. When was that published?

I've never seen any reference that there were more than 500 printed in 1907, but it's confusing to me.



Max

[barrysloate]

Max- the white cover with red lettering is how I've seen all the 1907 numbered copies. The black cover with red lettering is how I've seen most of the 1908's. There is a variant green binding but I don't know any particulars about it.

And as far as an auction house not mentioning that they are offering a numbered edition, couldn't it just have been an oversight?

Just wanted to add that it's common with vintage books to find them with variant bindings. I've seen it many times. Only the publisher could explain why a given book, for example, could appear with either a red, green, or blue cover. I've seen a Peverelly first edition with both a blue and brown cover. And I have no idea why.

[baseballart]

Barry

All the 1907 editions I've listed are numbered editions. My copy (white with gold lettering) I obtained from a very reputable dealer and it is a numbered edition. The auction listings for the green edition consistently list it as a numbered copy.

As for Peverelly, there is also a printing with green boards.

Max

[barrysloate]

I've seen the Peverelly with green boards, but that may be an 1867 second edition. Even though the 1866 first edition is scarce, the 1867 one is quite a bit tougher. And it has an extra chapter added that reviews the 1866 season.

Many other books have variant bindings. There are two versions of the Chadwick book, two of the Spalding book, and as I recall the early novels come with different color board covers. And among the most obvious is Athletic Sports in America, which was issued with two different covers simultaneously. The fancy morocco cover was offered at $3.50 a copy, while the plainer one could be purchased for $2.50. It was not uncomon to offer both a deluxe and common edition at the same time.

I have a copy of Robin Carver's 1834 Book of Sports that has from what I have seen a unique binding. The cover is embossed, the title is printed in gold lettering, and the pages are gilt edged. I have to think that this was a deluxe edition.

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I've seen the Peverelly with green boards, but that may be an 1867 second edition. Even though the 1866 first edition is scarce, the 1867 one is quite a bit tougher. And it has an extra chapter added that reviews the 1866 season.

Many other books have variant bindings. There are two versions of the Chadwick book, two of the Spalding book, and as I recall the early novels come with different color board covers. And among the most obvious is Athletic Sports in America, which was issued with two different covers simultaneously. The fancy morocco cover was offered at $3.50 a copy, while the plainer one could be purchased for $2.50. It was not uncomon to offer both a deluxe and common edition at the same time.

I have a copy of Robin Carver's 1834 Book of Sports that has from what I have seen a unique binding. The cover is embossed, the title is printed in gold lettering, and the pages are gilt edged. I have to think that this was a deluxe edition.

I'll have to check my Peverelly. I think I traded off brown boards, and kept green, but didn't even look at the editions.

Spalding has at least three variations: the common blue, the common beige paperboard, and red boards.

I believe Palmer also had three variations. I've posted the salesmen's sample , and I'll have to dig out a photo that shows the third variation

Max

[barrysloate]

The salesman's sample of Palmer is an abridged book if I remember correctly...anyone else want to join Max and me in this conversation?

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Barry would either you or Max give us your estimates as to values for these editions? I consider myself a pretty healthy baseball bibliophile but these rank near the top of everyone's want lists. Thanks

[barrysloate]

First editions are generally more valuable but the second edition does have some added information. I would say a nice looking copy of each book should be worth in the $800-1000 range, with the 1st likely to sell for more than the 2nd (but their values are pretty close).

[baseballart]

Here's a copy of the salesman's sample. It folds out to provide examples of each binding

Max