Quote:
Originally Posted by Leon
I received this email potentially dating the card to the original 1907 date that is written on it.
Leon,
As a Cleveland type collector, I too have never seen your card, but I think I unlocked the puzzle. At first it looked like maybe a Philadelphia one, since he played there before Cleveland, but I found a Nuckel Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island.
Lajoie was from Woonsocket. Rhode Island’s favorite son at that time. The Nickel Theatre was a new name in 1906, matching your card hand date.
So I believe it is legitimate and a trade card traceable to Rhode Island.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6599
Thoughts?
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I saw that too and it might be right. I was thinking somewhere around Philadelphia or in the vicinity of his hometown above anywhere else.
I agree with the above mentions that this could potentially be connected to a moving picture that Lajoie was in, most likely produced by Siegmund Lubin. Lubin was one of the early pioneers in the film industry and was anchored in Philadelphia. Some of his baseball moving pictures focused on the success of the Athletics, so they probably had the most demand in the Philadelphia and surrounding rural areas. If the card was given out around his hometown, it may have been connected to a showing as well. It could also have just been a promotion not related to a moving picture he was in.
The 1907 date aligns with the rise of nickel theatres and the distribution of souvenirs by theatres. From the best I can tell, nickel theatres were not much of a thing until 1905, then really hit their stride by 1907. I would feel pretty confident about the 1907 date on the Lajoie card.
Check out the Lubin postcard example below. I’m not saying they are connected at all, but there are some interesting qualities.
Intriguing item.