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Posted By: davidcycleback

There were late 1800s art prints, prints instead of photos with black/white photographic images (instead of albumen sepia). I've seen baseball examples. Depending on the printing process used, the surfaces can be rough/matte and can be on thick paper. Some of the processes could do high quality reproductions of photos, better than on period magazine or baseball card. The paper will often be off white with age. Sometimes something will be a size that makes it unlikely to be from the advertised period. For example, 8.5"x11" is the standard for computer and typing paper not 1812 etchings. However, I just checked, and 11x14 inches prints existed in 1800s. Again without seeing it, yours could be one of these types of prints. These would have been sold to the public at stores or galleries.

A key is that an 1800s photo wouldn't likely be that black and white in tone and wouldn't be on thick paper unless mounted (pasted to heavier backing). However, a late 1800s ink and printing press print with photorealistic image could be that tone and could be on thick paper or cardboard.

If it's an 1800s ink and printing press print, I would say a good guess it's a photogravure. Photogravures can have black and white tones, high quality photorealistic images and have rough/matte surface textures, and the process was often used to make art prints and quality book illustrations. I've seen a few late 1800s photogravure prints of baseball teams, including Major League teams.