1887-93 Baseball Currency Checklist

[BeanTown]

Wanted to point out a great article that Jerry Spillman did on baseball currency. It was printed in the Beckett Vintage Collector magazine which was on sale April 2018 issue. You may view it here

http://bcc.anaclubs.org/bbcur.htm

I have been collecting these notes ever since I read the Bob Lemke article he did in the weekly SCD paper back in the 90s. He inspired me to collect these notes ever since. These 19th century notes also known as obsolete currency have always been fun to track and collect.

There is a great book I would recommend anyone to buy called An Illustrated Catalogue of Early North American Advertising Notes by Robert A. Vlack. Being a type card collector (inspired by Leon long time ago), the advertisements on these notes drew me to collect them, since there are many.

Jerry's article does a great job explaining these notes. I love how they were used mainly for coupons by various merchants back in the day. Amazing how they made it out West to be used and the Dakota Territory when it was called Deadwood. As you can see these scare notes were all over the place and used by many.

So, I wanted to post my personal checklist to update all the work Jerry has done. Jay, Richard, and Joe did a great job on their Old Judge book. I appriciated them for sharing their knowledge which took them decades to acquire.

This list will only get bigger as new discoveries happen every year. These notes are collected by both currency and sport collectors. Please post or message me if you own any notes not seen on the list below. Would love to keep up with all I can.

2022 Baseball Currency Checklist:

1887-93 Baseball Obsolete Currency Notes 166 known



1887 Chicago (44)

Thorringtons (FIVE DOLLARS)/ Footwear - Denver, CO
C.H. Reeves & Son - Clothier - Aurora, IL
Wallblom & Thoorsell/ Furniture House - Chicago, IL (2 known)
USW Fish - Dry Goods - Pecatonica, IL
Baker & Watson - Guns Sporting Goods - Terra Haute, IN
Economy Boot & Shoe House - Footwear - Saginaw, MI
M. Stern - "The Fair" - Clinton, IA
Hart Bros & Co - Clothier - Warren, OH (2 known)
Hayes Bros - Jewelers - Austin, MN (3 known)
Monroe Route(Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Co)- Railroad - Chicago, IL (3 known)
Morgan Bros - Ticket Brokers - Chicago, IL (2 known)
J. Pfistner - Footwear - Troy, OH
Three C's (Central Cincinnati and Chicago Clothier) - Clothier- Jackson, MI
F.P. Weaver - Furniture, Undertaker - Lockport, NY
John A. Bailey - Auctioneer, Dealer - Chicago, IL
Buechler & Deibel Economy Boot and Shoe House - Footwear - Saginaw, MI
Crotty & Keenan - Clothier - Dubuque, IA
E.E. Pettit - ???????? - Chicago, IL
Smith's Jewelry House - Jewelry - Bellefontaine, OH
Geo A. Johnston/ Jeweler- Cadiz, OH (3 known)
Geo A. Johnston/ Jeweler- Cadiz, OH (Blank Back)
E.G. Marriott - Footwear - Baraboo, WI Sauk County
Browning Guns/ Payment reciet - Ogden, UT (signed by Browning)
J.V. Schaller/ Cigars and Tobacco - Elgin, IL
Headquarters Lower & Bellinger/ Gents Clothing - Lockport, NY
The Gotham/ Stationary & News Emporium - Gotham,NY
F.A. Kelber/ Suits - Xenia, OH
Buker & Skinner/ Jewelry & Sporting Goods - Rockford, IL
No Advertiser - Not known location
Allens Clothiers & Tailor/ Clothier - Unknown location
Kaufmanns Grand Depot/ Department Store Goods - Pittsburgh, PA
John Shuck / Globe Shoe Store - Findlay, OH
H.W. Preston/ Jeweler - Albion, NY
W.W. Johnson's/ Drug Store - Unknown Location

1887 Detroit (28)

Terpany & Rhoades - Footwear - Marion, OH
J. Pfistner - Shoe Dealer - Troy, OH
Fred Mason - Shirt Factory - Sacramento, CA
I.X.L. Store/ Dry Goods, Gents furnishings - Santa Barbara, CA
Heilmans - Footwear - Detroit, MI
J. Glick Stockton Jewelry - Watchmaker - Stockton, Ca
Central City Clothier - Clothier - Jackson, MI
Hirshheimer Bros. - Clothier - Canton, OH
Lower & Bellinger - Men's Clothier - Lockport, NY
The New York Show Store Geo. D Ryder, Proprietor - NY
A.S. McDonald - Footwear - Los Angeles, CA (RED letters)
A.S. McDonald - Footwear - Los Angeles, CA (ORANGE letters)
Morgan Bros - Ticket Brokers - Chicago, IL
K.C. Naylor & Co - Jeweler - San Diego, CA
G.H. Turk "The Live Clothier" - Clothier - Pontiac and Oxford, MI
Hart Bros & Co - Clothier - Warren, OH
Broas/ Clothing - Lansing, MI (2 known)
Excelsior/ Clothing House - Newark, OH
No Advertiser - Generic coupon message on reverse - Unknown location
J.C. Peet/ Boots, Shoes, and Rubbers - Rochester, NY (2 known)
John Shuck/ Globe Shoe Store - Findlay, OH
C. Howe/ Gents' Furnishings - Pomona, CA
Three C's/ Goods Union Block - Jackson, MI
Geo A. Johnston/ Jeweler- Cadiz, OH
M. WEIL/ Clothier - Ironton, OH
G.R. Shaeffer/ Watches, Clocks, Jewelry - Canyon City, Co (stamp overprint)

1887 St. Louis (10)

The Merchants/ Restaurant, Oyster and Liquor House - St. Louis, Mo
H.H. Bothe/ Vehicles - St. Louis, MO
C.W. Mclean/ Guns & Baseball Goods - St. Louis, MO
Schottmueller Exposition Cigar Co/ Cigars - St. Louis, MO
Taylor & Taylor/ Pharmacy - Frankfort, KS (2 Known)
White Sewing Machine Co/ Sewing - St. Louis, MO
O'Brien & Malloy/ Clothier - Troy, NY
The Blue Store, Smith & Humphrey/ Clothier & Hatter - Burlington, VT
No Advertiser/ No Location Blank Note

1887 Indian Ball Game (2)

Sportsmans' Park Sept 29-30, Oct 1-2/ Thos. Ward, Livery and Boarding Stable - Undertaker of Funerals - A. Zacharia's Restaurant. (2 known)

1888 Chicago (10)

I. H. Chase - Clothier - Deadwood, Territory (2 Known)
Holbrook & Dyer - Footwear - Worchester, MA
S.C. Ingraham - Jeweler - Fairbury, NE
Linderbaum's - Footwear - San Francisco, CA
Holder & Earle - Cigar Store - Worchester, MA
Kesterson Bros - Clothiers - Fairbury, NE
Ingraham/ Jewelry - Fairbury, NE
The Hub - Furniture - Boston, MA
Palace Clothing Co - Clothers - Topeka, KS

1888 Detroit (25)

Henry Wingart - Groceries - Lena, IL
Sarman's Silver Moon Cigar (Call-In Service) - Cigars- Michigan
Plymouth Rock Pants - Pants - Boston, MA
Jensen & Larson - Furniture, Undertaking - Clay Center, KS
Bakrow & Goodman - Cigars - Louisville, KY
Bay State Clothing - Clothier - Worchester, MA
Central Photography Gallery - Photography - Oshkosh, WI (3 known)
J.W. Evans - Harness, Saddles - Warren, IL
Lewis & Edward - Tailor - Emporia, KS (2 Known)
Champion Maker of $3 Pants-Pants - Boston, MA (3 known)
Smith, The Shoe Man - Footwear - New Haven, CT (2 known)
The Phoenix Building/ Shoe Store - Chicago, IL
London Clothing Co/ Gents Funishing - Rich Hill, MO
The Blue Store Smith & Humphrey/ Clothier - Burlington, VT
Elliott/ Photographer - Butte, MT
The Goodlander/ Furniture Co. - Fort Scott, KS (2 known)
O'Brien & Molloy/ Clothier - Troy, NY
Blake & Merchant/ Clothier - Providence, R.I.


1888 St. Louis (1)

London and Paris Misfits Parlors/ Factory-Seconds - St. Louis, MO


1889 Chicago (40)

The Reading Shoe Store Co/ Footwear - Reading, PA
Royal Shoes/ Footwear - New Haven, CT
Comfort Shoe Store/ Footwear - Chicago, IL
L&JS Claus/Groceries- Englewood, IL
Star Clothiers/ Clothier - Hutchinson, KS
Benson & Rixon's/ Clothier - Chicago, IL
Commonwealth Clothing House/ Clothier - Boston, MA
Giles & Rudolph/ Men's Furnishings & Hatters - Wilmington, DE
Globe Studio/ Photographic Gallery - Reading, PA
Grosscup/ Tailor - Bridgeton, NJ
Heilman's Reform Shoes/ Footwear - Reading, PA (2 known)
W.S. Hill/ Watchmaker, Jeweler - West Chester, PA
Jarvis & Co/ Clothier - Joliet, IL
Koch & Shankweiler/ Clothier - Allentown, PA (2 known)
Mullin & Loomis/ Clothier - West Chester, PA
Somiesky/ Photographer - Pottstown, PA
WM. Stuart/Furniture - Baltimore, MD
J.H. Widmyer/ Furniture - Lancaster, PA
Williams & Colville/ Furniture - Trenton, NJ
Boyne & Badger/Jewelers - Charlotte, NC
Adolph Hilb, Rochelle's One Price Clothier/ Clothier - Rochelle, IL
Plymouth Clothing House/ Clothier - Fort Dodge, IA
W.C. Russell & Co Photographers/ photography - Baltimore, MD
J. Henry Lauterbach Boots & Shoes/ Shoes - Baltimore, MD
Burgunder & Shloss Boots & Shoes/ Shoes - Wilkes-Barre, PA
Moth Paper from Mallalieu & Co/ Clothing, Blankets, Carpets - Baltimore, MD
M.H. Post/ Ridding Saddles & Supplies - Wilkes-Barre, PA (No year printed)
Lilienthal & Co/ Photographers - New Orleans, LA (green back not orange)
Chapman & Jakeman/ Jewelry - Norfolk, VA
H. Chaplin & Son/ Boots & Shoes - Boston, MA
Carver & Little/ Merchant Tailors - Hanover, PA
Hess Bros/ Shoe House - Baltimore, MD
H.A. Scott/ Shoe Maker - Philada, PA
SCHARTEL/ Photographer - Lebanon, PA (green back not orange)
A.M. Allen/ Photographer - Pottsville, PA
Harper Bros/ Groceries - Cherokee, IA (green back not orange)
Wells & Stone/ Furniture & Household Goods - McKeesport, PA
J.C. Sunderlin/ Photographer - Flemington, NJ

1890 Boxing (1)

Haymarket Theatre/ Week of Oct 12 Sullivan (Boxer) & Harrison (Actor) - Chicago, IL


1893 N.L. All-Stars (5)

Arkush's Sample Shoe Store/ Footwear - New York City, NY
Frank Foggin/ Footwear - Port Richmond, Staten Island, NY
Thomas & Barton/ Pianos & Organs - Augusta, GA
Sam Glock New York Clothier/ Clothier - Port Chester, NY
Fruin The Hatter/ Hats - Brooklyn, NY

[bigfish]

Thank you for sharing. This is fantastic.

[insidethewrapper]

Add the following to your list : I have the 1887 St. Louis (H.H. Bothe) already listed. I also have 1887 Detroit ( Issued by: Geo A. Johnston, The Cadiz-Jeweler).
Thanks for sharing this information instead of keeping it a "big secret".

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Add the following to your list : I have the 1887 St. Louis (H.H. Bothe) already listed. I also have 1887 Detroit ( Issued by: Geo A. Johnston, The Cadiz-Jeweler).
Thanks for sharing this information instead of keeping it a "big secret".

Mike!! Awesome find as I've never seen that advertiser on a Detroit note! Of the three known they were all Chicago. So, I have updated the list to include yours. Here is a comparison of both notes (top/bottom)

[Joe_G.]

Excellent research and sharing JC.

Looks like I have nothing new for you. Unlike you I was satisfied once I obtained both the 1887 and 1888 Detroit notes, couldn't imagine going after all the different advertisers.

[BeanTown]

Thanks Joe and glad you have both Detroit notes in your HOF collection. I knew you had them but Ive never seen the advertisers. Thus, I didnt have on my list. So I have added both of yours to the ongoing total!

This just in.. Thanks to Bob, he has an 1888 Detroit note which comes from a Providence, R.I. So, another State gets added to where these currency were distributed.

[triwak]

Perhaps not all that rare, but my only note (Chicago) has no advertising on it at all, front OR back. (Sorry, no back scan).

[pro9]

1887 Chicago
Allens- The Clothiers and Tailors
No city or state is specified

[BeanTown]

Ken and Pro9 thanks sooooo much for posting! This is great! I've added both of your notes to the list. Ken very cool having a note without an advertiser on it. I have seen three only like that. Pro9 thats a super cool note and will give me a project to try to figure out the location of the advertiser. If it was Allen and Straus then it would be traced back to NY. But no suck luck, just yet. Ill try to figure it out.

Thanks gentlemen for posting and we now have 140 different known notes!!

[CTDean]

1889 Chicago in eBay completed

SCHARTEL The Photographer Cumberland St. Lebanon, PA

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by CTDean

1889 Chicago in eBay completed

SCHARTEL The Photographer Cumberland St. Lebanon, PA

Nice find Dean. Added to the list and thanks for pointing out. Very excited to add all the new notes over the last couple of days.

[Leon]

Nice thread. Thanks to JC and those who contributed to it. The currency is a neat collecting niche which I haven't gotten into (yet).

[Shoeless Moe]

I emailed this new find to Jay so he's added it to his list.

It also is now available in BST if anyone is interested. (Sorry, it's now sold).

[Jobu]

I think this is a new one. Cool that they advertise selling cigars - maybe someone used this to pick up an Old Judge.

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by Jobu

I think this is a new one. Cool that they advertise selling cigars - maybe someone used this to pick up an Old Judge.

Yes, it is a new advertiser which I added to the list. I wish I knew the City, and State from W.W. Johnson’s Drug Store. It doesn’t help much that Johnson & Johnson first came out in 1887 which seems to be dominating my search results.

Thanks for posting.

[oldjudge]

Great job with the research, JC!

[BeanTown]

Thank Jay.. Just updated the list as there are 25 new additions and I discovered more info on unknown notes which I included on the update.

Hope to continue to see new and undiscovered notes pop up.

[BeanTown]

Just discovered this currency from an old auction which wasn’t on the checklist. Even thought new discoveries happen each year with different advertisers, this one has to be my favorite.

Al Spalding who was one of the pioneers of baseball in the 19th century and later became the co-founder of the A.G. Spalding sporting good company which began in 1876. This note dates from 1887.