Posted By:
MarkThanks for posting the pic...
Awesome Ball, Marty!! I can't imagine 3 better names to have on one panel than those. The shellac isn't a big deal on this one...
It does not appear to have compromised the overall condition, and has "yellowed" the ball only a moderate amount. Actually, "creamy" is a better descriptive color, and that toning can occur as part of the natural aging process (shellacked or not).
This is a very desirable piece, with or without the shellac. I just checked Mastro, and do think you got it for a great price... my guess is for about 20% - 25% less than is typical for a ball of this magnitude (I'm sticking with that number!)
Whether this can be attributed to the shellac, or just to an unusual/inconsistent auction (with prices all over the board), I am not sure. The one panel with LaJoie and Kid Nichols appears a bit compromised, but my guess is that those signatures were weaker to begin with. Regardless... thanks for posting, and congrats on an amazing pickup!
Edit - After looking again, it is obvious that the blue pen used by LaJoie, Kid Nichols and Clark Griffith was of inferior quality ink. Looks like it just bled into the ball a bit. The shellac would not have caused or perpetuated this.