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Posted By: ramram

As Barry noted, the content is outstanding. This is an exremely rare shot from the infancy of professional ball. You start finding more images of this sort in the 1880's and later but rarely from the 1870's and earlier. It is quite possiby a unique image as well as I have not seen another like it. I figured that it likely was originally owned by one of those in the photo but hadn't put the connection with Harry Wright. However, I think Barry is right when looking at the writing. As with most everybody else, I just couldn't get past the condition issue.

This seller had another image of great rarity as well:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&item=260006366731&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Although it gave the appearance of a Harper's Weekly image, it was not. It's an exremely rare, and large, image of one of the great early teams. The photographic style is similar to that used in the 1888 Joseph Hall Boston team cabinet. The only other one that I have seen like this is in the NY Public Library Spalding Collection.

Rob M.