T206 Burch "Statue of Liberty" ???
 

This is a fun thread I once posted elsewhere. The T206 Burch (Batting) has a monument in the background. Looks to me like a statue. And, [gasp], Mr. Burch happened to play in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sure, Lady Liberty was probably not visible from the Brooklyn ballpark yatta yatta. But, Burch (Batting) is a 150-only subject -- one of the very first produced in the set. What better way to draw attention than by sketching an iconic image in the background? Any thoughts?

I asked the same question back on the Full Count board
 

Seems everyone there thought it was a building like a city hall or temple of some sort. I still say SoL.

Ed, sorry for stepping on your terrain (I did not know). I agree with you that it's likely inspired by SoL. Scot

Good eye Scot and Ed. I like to look at the buildings in the backgrounds but it never occured to me that this one might be to Statue of Liberty. Now that you point it out I have to agree with you that it looks like that is what the artist was going for. Very cool, thanks for posting.

The Burch artwork is so great, it was drawn so early in the process and the structure is so prominently featured that I can't help but think it was SoL inspired. Hat tip to Ed who raised the issue first.

Scott, no harm, no foul
 

Just glad to hear someone agrees with me after about twelve years of having asked the question.

Take care.

OK guys, here is the setting......
 

As I see it, Ed and Scot have really captured the artist's intent here. It certainly appears to be the Statue of Liberty. Furthermore,
the building in the background is Ellis Island.

Today, if you go to the grounds of the old Brooklyn Navy Yard (BNY), where Burch is standing, you will see this exact scene.

Incidentally, the old BNY is now a park.


TED Z
.

Hi Ted, the Navy Yard is not a park in the traditional sense, it's now a thriving industrial area with film studios, artisans, artists, and various companies.

http://brooklynnavyyard.org/the-navy-yard/history/

PS- I'm not 100% sold on the SOL theory. The elevation seems higher than it should be, I'll also submit, if you look at old photos of Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan from that era, there are an over abundance of churches/cathedrals with towering spires...just a thought.

Hi Mike
 

Last month we visited Barry and Judy Sloate, and we hiked over to this area which Barry referred to as "Brooklyn Park". There are
gardens, soccer & football fields in certain areas which once was the old Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The artwork on this Burch card depicts a view which appears to be Lady Liberty and Ellis Island on a sea of water beyond the grass.

If this background was that of lower Manhattan (circa 1908-09), it would be crowded with buildings.


TED Z
.

Hi Ted- he probably took you to Dumbo or Brooklyn Heights, it's developed as park space along the river...I doubt he took you to the same Navy Yard I'm talking about, as you'd need credentials to access...unless there's some park space adjacent to the Navy Yard, which is possible.

The section Ted referred to starts around Atlantic Avenue and heads north into Brooklyn Heights, just past the Brooklyn Bridge. It is now the centerpiece of the new waterfront development in our area that includes a soccer field, volleyball courts, restaurants, basketball courts, and is still being built at this time.

We indeed went there with Ted and Charlotte just about a month ago. The Statue of Liberty is clearly visible from that end of the old Navy Yard, as well as both Ellis Island and Governor's Island. That said, it's a bit of a stretch to say the SOL is in the background on the Burch card, but you never know. The statue celebrated its 25th anniversary in May, 1908, so the timing is about right.

Hi Barry, that's exactly where I thought you took him, great area.

I'm also in the "it's a stretch" boat regarding SOL...

NYC dinner soon? ;)

Here is the comparative image from Google Maps from the Brooklyn Navy Yard of the grainy SoL in the distance... looks close to Burch's background.

Looks dam close to me.

Hi Michael- I posted a month or two ago about a NY dinner, but got no responses. It takes a little extra effort to get everyone moving. We must be getting older.:)

...
 

I suddenly have added the Burch to my wishlist.

Interesting....

When you are actually standing on the Brooklyn waterfront, or on the promenade in Brooklyn Heights, and viewing the statue, you will see it does not come to a point on top. In the card of Burch, the building in the background looks more like a steeple. The actual statue wears a crown and has one arm outstretched. I suppose at a certain angle the outstretched arm could look like a steeple, but there is nothing to support the SOL being featured on that card.

+1

Plus, he wouldn't be standing on the waterfront anyway, their field was much further back into BK. I'm positive it is a church/cathedral spire...again, there were many in BK, and downtown Manhattan. As Ted pointed out earlier, Manhattan might be ruled out, but certainly many visible in BK.

I vote
 

Statue of Liberty because I'm a patriot:)

don't you love some of the artwork of 206?? the litho "perceptions" of some of the background scenes are left to imagination:)

http://www.bmwcards.net/net54/SOL1.JPG

http://www.bmwcards.net/net54/SOL2.JPG

http://www.bmwcards.net/net54/SOL3.JPG

http://www.bmwcards.net/net54/SOL4.JPG