Early Vintage Card Identification

[Buythatcard]

To all those experts out there in Net54 land.

Can someone help me identify the following card? The card was put out by Gilbert Studios. I don't know if this is the same as the Gilbert & Bacon series from the late 1800's. Card also has a signature that I can't make out. Any leads would help.

Thanks!

[vintagerookies51]

Don't know about the card but I'm curious whether the /99 means it was signed in 1899 or 1999

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by vintagerookies51

Don't know about the card but I'm curious whether the /99 means it was signed in 1899 or 1999

Me either, but he was a pitcher (toe plate on shoe)

[Buythatcard]

Wow, I didn't even notice the toe plate.

[judsonhamlin]

I checked nemec's 19th century encyclopedia and Mark Okkonen's 1900-09 photo book and came up empty. The uni looks like the Philly NL teams at the turn of the century, but no names seem to match H S Shapes if that is close to being the sig.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

I checked nemec's 19th century encyclopedia and Mark Okkonen's 1900-09 photo book and came up empty. The uni looks like the Philly NL teams at the turn of the century, but no names seem to match H S Shapes if that is close to being the sig.

I also checked all the minor leagues teams in MLB Reference starting with 'P' that had any pitchers with either of those first initials in '98-'00, and also came up empty. Don't worry - someone will figure it out.

[Buythatcard]

I am not worried. I know that someone on Net54 will solve this mystery.

I enjoy reading all the leads and really appreciate the help.

[e107collector]

I would assume it was signed in 1899, not 1999.

The name looks like "H S Shepid or Sheped/99?

Tony

[Jcfowler6]

1315 columbia ave Philidelphia was a photo studio in Philidelphia in 1899. If this helps.

[Jcfowler6]

That second line does it say "in-hair" or "in-kair" or something else?

[scooter729]

Any chance the middle initial is an L and not an S? On its own, it seems like an S. But compared to the S in the last name and in 'Sincerely' it looks more like an L.

Not that it would solve the ID, but just pointing it out......

[Buythatcard]

Looks like either in - hai or in - kai

[vintagerookies51]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Any chance the middle initial is an L and not an S? On its own, it seems like an S. But compared to the S in the last name and in 'Sincerely' it looks more like an L.

Not that it would solve the ID, but just pointing it out......

Yes, I think it is an L. The loops are going opposite ways

[Jcfowler6]

Originally Posted by vintagerookies51

Yes, I think it is an L. The loops are going opposite ways

No I think the "S" in sincerely is very close to the "S" in the last name. I think it is an "S". The last name "S" just loops up a little further than in sincerely. I think just from writing a bit quick.

[novakjr]

I'm leaning towards thinking that last name may be "Shafer". From Princeton maybe?

Since the address on the back doesn't list the city, while the listings of locations is missing the address for the Atlantic City, NJ location.. Maybe those two go together... That would lead me to think Princeton.

[erstevens]

Maybe the "P" is for UPenn.

[Jcfowler6]

Don't think it was Princeton.

[Jcfowler6]

I think that this photo was taken in Philadelphia.



There was a photo studio at this address in 1899 in the city of Philadelphia. I believe that address sets alone to show where it was taken.

There's a picture of the Penn University 1899 varsity baseball team at the link below. One of the players is:

•Hermann Louis Shape, '99

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/...800s/1899.html

[Jcfowler6]

He was a right handed pitcher.

This was definitely CM Gilbert or a studio he owned.

Then I wonder about this dot. Does this dot make it SH"I"...

So my gut tells me that maybe this picture was given by someone to someone and the player was not involved. Maybe it was given by HS Shipeo or Shaped or something.

So I am trying to match this face with Phillies pictures from 1899. Closest I can see is possibly Bill Bernhard. But that is a stretch.

[Jcfowler6]

Karl I think you have it sir.

[novakjr]

Definitely Penn...Gotta be shape then.

I found a photo on Wiki of what I would assume the rowing crew. CM Gilbert was the photographer for that as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:19...of_PA_Crew.jpg

[Jcfowler6]

H.L. Shape/99

That's my vote.

[Buythatcard]

Amazing!! The way you guys came up with who this player was.
Unless someone else chimes in, I will say that this card is from 1899 of Hermann Louis Shape from Penn University.

I wonder if that was his signature on the photo?

Thanks for all of your work.

[joeadcock]

Good job Karl

[Danny Smith]

Amazing. Love the detective work.

[Yanks23]

I realize this post was from quite some time ago. But wondering if anyone still has the cabinet. And if so, would you be willing to sell it? Send me a note at: timwhitman@comcast.net and I can fill you in as to why it is of interest. Perhaps we can work out a trade for something if that is a better fit.

-- Tim

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Yanks23

I realize this post was from quite some time ago. But wondering if anyone still has the cabinet. And if so, would you be willing to sell it? Send me a note at: timwhitman@comcast.net and I can fill you in as to why it is of interest. Perhaps we can work out a trade for something if that is a better fit.

-- Tim

Tim,
I sent you an eMail.

[Yanks23]

Ok, thanks. Nothing has come through yet. Not in spam filter either.