Phil -
I'm not sure if this has already been addressed, but I was searching around and found an 1870 The World Newspaper Woodcut of Candy Cummings graded by BVG. This would certainly pre-date the 1873 Baltimore Team Composite you have listed on this post.
Link to the website where I saw the Cummings card:
http://www.rustywilly.com/largecards...mingsCandy.htm
Thanks again for all your contributions on this site helping all those (myself included) HOF "rookie" card collectors out there - - all of us chasing the
impossible dream.
__________________
...
http://imageevent.com/derekgranger
Working on the following:
HOF "Earliest" Collection (Ideal - Indiv): 250/346 (72.3%)
1914 T330-2 Piedmont Art Stamps......: 116/119 (97.5%)
Completed:
1911 T332 Helmar Stamps (180/180)
1923 V100 Willard's Chocolate (180/180)