c. 1850-1860 Earliest Surviving Baseball Club Bat? for Sale
 

I believe this bat to be the earliest, or among the earliest, game-used bats (non-trophy, actually used) that survive to date, c. 1850-1860. Given its large size of 34 inches, heavy weight, construction, and emblems, I believe it was used by a member of a professional club. It's post-1840 as it is thicker than town ball, and it is not a child's bat (as you may know, baseball was, with limited exception, a child and teen sport pre-1840). Wish I can find more on the "E" emblem and "SVS" initials; have done much research but have not been able to find anything. The bat had a vertical grain separation that was repaired by Cliff spectacularly.
Also has a knot in the barrell which I love - players of the era viewed a knot as a positive because of how hard knots are, believing they would hit the ball harder and further.
Please feel free to PM if interested - I will even give you an asking price and not make you come up with an offer!
I purchased the bat at the Atlantic City National in 2002; I was told it came out of a house on a large property/farm in upstate New York.
Hall of Fame quality piece! :cool: