New member, show me your oldest card in you collection

[upstateNYmilb]

My name is Jim, very happy to have found this forum. I couldn't find much content on Twitter that interested me, it is all mostly breaks and new stuff. I've been a collector since I was about 8 years old. I took a hiatus for a few years, and wasn't that involved. I really got back into it in 2017, and I was buying all sorts of packs and boxes, but I was accumulating tons of cards that I didn't really want. The past year or two, I realized that I wanted to focus on older stuff, pre 70s. I'd really like to get into Pre WWll stuff, but I don't really have the budget, with a wife and young daughter. But recently I did pick up what is the oldest card in my collection, 1933 Goudey Al Simmons. I wanted a card from that set, and to find a HOF that was affordable was a win.

So show me your oldest card in your collection!

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[oldeboo]

Smart move on many fronts. You'll find that most here aren't into ripping modern packs either. With vintage and prewar you end up buying what you want and enjoy, not playing the lottery. You'll find that there are some relatively affordable cards in prewar. Now you're not going to be finding cheap Babe Ruth cards, but there are plenty of different cards in the $30 and under range. I'd much rather save up money for a little while than to be buying packs and putting those cards in boxes to be never seen again.

[scooter729]

Welcome! Much better to live in the vintage collecting world than in the modern world of pack rips (at least in my opinion), so I'm sure you'll enjoy it here!

Here's an oldie from an 1884 baseball game - doesn't get older than this for me! Also will add an 1887 card of one of my favorites - Ol' Hoss Radbourn.

[MuncieNolePAZ]

Welcome. Here is my oldest. Previously had a couple Old Judges.

[upstateNYmilb]

Thanks for the replies! I love seeing all of these old cards. I'm also impressed at how much activity there is on this forum.

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[x2drich2000]

Welcome to the board, I think this is my oldest, at least for my personal collection.

[GeoPoto]

My oldest is either a Gold Coin or an Old Judge. My expertise is not sharp enough to be sure which of these two would have been released first.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1604583633
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1604583644

[Leon]

Welcome....
Currently my oldest. Circa 1865....

[ruth-gehrig]

1860s

[triwak]

My two oldest:

[Casey2296]

Welcome! Not my oldest but one of my favorites. Picked up recently from another member.

[brianp-beme]

Welcome aboard! The 1933 Goudey Simmons was one of the first Goudey cards I picked up. I always liked its full body batting pose, so it is 100% approved by me...good choice!

I don't have much when it comes to 19th century, but 1887 is definitely a key year with multiple sets being issued, and many of them readily available such as the N28 Allen & Ginter, N162 Goodwin, N172 Old Judge, N184 Kimball Champions, N284 Buchner Gold Coin.

Here is Old Judge of Ezra Sutton that I have always felt fortunate to have in my collection.

Brian

[puckpaul]

from 1876, a cabinet of Thayer of Harvard (and Bancroft). Thayer is credited with inventing the catcher's mask.

[paul]

My oldest, from 1869.

[oldjudge]

This CdV was issued during the first cricket tour outside the British Isles, one of North America, which took place in 1859. It pictures the touring side. The visiting group played both cricket and baseball against Harry Wright, and these games predated the Grand Match games of 1863. As far as I know this is the oldest sports "card" in existence.

[jcmtiger]

Mine

[pete zouras]

from the 1860s

[jpop43]

Being that the question asked pertained to a "card" rather than a "baseball card", this CDV image of a game being played at Hoboken, NJ that dates...definitively...between June 1864- August 1866, is my oldest.

[Exhibitman]

Here are my two oldest

[doug.goodman]

Welcome to Fantasy island, Jim.

Most of my "cards" aren't cards, but here's one from 1859

[todeen]

Welcome! I'm in the same boat as you - two kids (7 & 3) and a wife, collecting on a budget. My oldest are all circa 1909. I have a handful of T206, but since many people were posting post cards, I decided I could post a Sporting News Supplement. I picked this one up of Tris Speaker from a board member.

[upstateNYmilb]

Guys, appreciate all of these replies. This forum seems like it has great members and alot of interaction. Very excited to be a part of it. You have convinced me of what I already knew: Vintage is the way to go! I especially love all of this pre war stuff.

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[Sean]

IMG_1335.jpg

[Mozzie22]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

Welcome to the board, I think this is my oldest, at least for my personal collection.

This is fantastic Great image!

[Exhibitman]

if we can go to boxing:



This etching of HOFer Dick Curtis is 200 years old. 100% rag paper, so it looks better than last year's newspapers.

[Bill77]

My oldest

[ValKehl]

Jim, there were several card sets issued in the late 1880s, some of which are fairly expensive, even for a card of a common player. But, you should be able to acquire a N172 Old Judge card of a common player with a decent photographic image for roughly $100-200. Here's a few images of cards from this era to whet your appetite. FYI, the cards I didn't show the backs of have blank backs.

[DeanH3]

[GaryPassamonte]

1866 Lowells of Boston

[bgar3]

1865-66 cdv of Archie Bush and James McClure. I am just finishing my research project on Bush and will post something soon. He has an amazing history. The Phillips refers to the Academy. This used to be Mark Rucker’s.

[GaryPassamonte]

I forgot about this one. Mark Rucker described it as circa 1863 in his book. I'm not sure if it's that old, but early nonetheless.

[nat]

Not quite as old as some of the cards shown above, but A&Gs are a very nice 19th c. issue. One of mine:

[triwak]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

This CdV was issued during the first cricket tour outside the British Isles, one of North America, which took place in 1859. It pictures the touring side. The visiting group played both cricket and baseball against Harry Wright, and these games predated the Grand Match games of 1863. As far as I know this is the oldest sports "card" in existence.

Fantastic, Jay!!

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

if we can go to boxing:



This etching of HOFer Dick Curtis is 200 years old. 100% rag paper, so it looks better than last year's newspapers.

Nice one Adam. Hope you're doing well on your side of the valley.

Doug

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

This CdV was issued during the first cricket tour outside the British Isles, one of North America, which took place in 1859. It pictures the touring side. The visiting group played both cricket and baseball against Harry Wright, and these games predated the Grand Match games of 1863. As far as I know this is the oldest sports "card" in existence.

I love that one.

[ramram]

My oldest currently - 1874 Athletic

Rob M

1874 Athletic (Fisler) (1).jpg

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

I love that one.

Thanks Doug. There are two books written about Parr’s 1859 tour, both of which include box scores of the cricket matches.

[packs]

How about a calling card? I even have the original envelope. Still together since February 1868:

[aquarius31]

Great thread and love those CDVs! I think these are 2 of my older ones. The first one was received in a trade from a fellow board member for an 1860's cricket cdv. It depicts a game played on June 6, 1860 between the Potomac Base Ball Club of Washington and Excelsior Club of Baltimore. The second one is a large format salt print measuring nearly 8" x 10."

[Eric72]

My lone 19th Century card. Acquired from a fellow board member.

[clydepepper]

1888 N28 Allen and Ginter MONTE WARD SGC-80.jpg

[herbc]

[25801wv]

Originally Posted by paul

My oldest, from 1869.

Wow. Awesome card.

[todeen]

I was thinking about my oldest baseball related items, so I figured I would post my oldest items, both late 1890s. My advertising envelope is 1897, and the Tip Top Weekly is 1899, I think. Doug Goodman could probably correct me. I bet Doug would have some cool magazine covers to post, too.

[tedzan]

Jim.....welcome to the club.


1860's





1871







1880's





1890's







TED Z

T206 REFERENCE....convenient access to T206 checklists
.

[Kenny Cole]

George Wright.

[bgar3]

Another George Wright and one of Ryan that once hung with it.

[andybecker]

Originally Posted by herbc

wow! really nice example!

[Michael Peich]

This is a fascinating thread, and I am sorry to be so late to the dance.

While not baseball cards, these are the oldest items in my collection, invitations to the first annual ball of the Monitor BBC, and a program for the evening. They are graphic reminders that most post-Civil War amateur baseball teams were social clubs.

Enjoy,
Mike