c1909 Cigar Box w/Black Baseball Team Photo

[bcbgcbrcb]

I was doing some e-bay searches tonight looking for any significant Negro League or Cuban League items that had sold over the past couple of months. Much to my amazement, I came across the following listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Stone-C...p2047675.l2557

Looks like a really cool piece, assuming that it is legitimate. Has anyone ever seen a team photo, white or black, that was produced as advertising for a cigar company and affixed to one of their boxes? I have seen many individual players but not a team like this, especially not African American. Could it simply be a team photo that someone just attached to the cigar box later on? If so, probably not a smart move as it sold for much less than a regular photo of that team would have brought.

Thoughts?

[slidekellyslide]

I vote fake. It was sold again three weeks later for $100 less...perhaps mailed out and returned?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Stone-C...EAAOSwvRtbs9xd

Also why is the advertising on the photo a different cigar? The box appears 1950s or newer and the photos is supposed to be from 1909.

Also of note is Top Stone Cigar company was a Connecticut company and not Minneapolis.

Nope.

[ramram]

Phil, I saw that auction on ebay and did some light research at the time. As I recall, I could not make any connection with that team or their location with that cigar company. There were several red flags. I concluded it was a fantasy piece.

Rob M

[canjond]

Definitely looked fake to me as well.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Thanks, guys, thought that might be the case. Falls under the category of “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is”

[Duluth Eskimo]

I collect Minnesota pieces and did the same research as I’m sure most of you had done. I wanted it to be real, but everything I looked in to led me to believe it was no good. I agree it was most likely purchased and returned.

[steve B]

I wonder if the photo is real, but glued to a newer cigar box?

There just isn't enough detail in the pictures to tell.

[Jobu]

Same thoughts as Steve. I too saw this listing and I assumed it was a photo glued to a random box. My interest was entirely in the photo, which I think is really cool if real - but I couldn't decide based on the poor pics.

Originally Posted by steve B

I wonder if the photo is real, but glued to a newer cigar box?

There just isn't enough detail in the pictures to tell.