Possible 1888 joseph hall cabinet?

[DrSatanis]

Update: retook photos outside of poly with/without flash for front and back

Greetings all! I'm Justin, new member, getting back into collecting.

Its a long shot, but maybe somewhere in this group is a pre-20th century expert who can help me out.

Went to my LCS yesterday. Guys been in business for decades, has a lot of random boxes of things that have appeared over the years. Going is always like a little treasure hunt.

I found this in a literal shoebox with lots of newspaper clippings from the 1880s, including a very nice illustration of animals playing Baseball in 1884 which i also bought (picture included).

I bought it on impulse dirt cheap, with both the shop owner and myself assuming it's a reprint, but ive got this nagging impulse to at least check it out.

The 1888 Joseph Hall Cabinet card of the Brooklyn Base Ball Club.

First item of concern is the size. I don't have a take measure handy until tomorrow, but its maybe 3/4" short on the longest side and about a 1/4" short on the short side.

Then the back, it just feels too clean.

Overall it feels too good to be true... but crazier things have happened in collecting.

It didnt cost me much, so even if its not real ill just frame it up for my collectibles room, but figured I'd at least try and ask around. I'll keep digging on the Google/ baseball almanac as well!

I'll also try and get better photos, dropped it off at the house before I left for the weekend.

Appreciate your help folks!


https://freeimage.host/i/KdqQBjf
https://freeimage.host/i/KdqQT37
https://freeimage.host/i/KdqQz4S
https://freeimage.host/i/KdqQKps

[doug.goodman]

I don't know about that cabinet, but I'm fascinated by your name.

Hail!
Doug

[swarmee]

Retake photos with item out of polybag.

[DrSatanis]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Retake photos with item out of polybag.

Done, updated photos theyre in the original post. Did 1 with and 1 without flash front and back. Thanks

[sb1]

Has some of the same staining as the one sold in the Fall 2016 REA auction, with more added to differentiate it perhaps, and some edge scuffing. I believe it is a copy of that cabinet.

https://collectrea.com/archives/2016...s-team-cabinet

[Leon]

Does it look like the photo is pasted onto the mount? There should be a noticeable (tiny) ridge where the photo and mount meet. If it is a 1 piece item, then it's not real. Also, the photo doesn't look crisp like a real photo should but that could be the scan. I am leaning to it not being good from the scans. It's too washed-out looking.

[DrSatanis]

Originally Posted by Leon

Does it look like the photo is pasted onto the mount? There should be a noticeable (tiny) ridge where the photo and mount meet. If it is a 1 piece item, then it's not real. Also, the photo doesn't look crisp like a real photo should but that could be the scan. I am leaning to it not being good from the scans. It's too washed-out looking.

That was a contributing factor on my end of going ehhhhhh. The real pictures are just "cleaner" from what ive seen. I wish I wouldve had the foresight to bring it to work today, could've thrown it under some of my big my magnifiers for looking at parts

[DrSatanis]

Originally Posted by sb1

Has some of the same staining as the one sold in the Fall 2016 REA auction, with more added to differentiate it perhaps, and some edge scuffing. I believe it is a copy of that cabinet.

https://collectrea.com/archives/2016...s-team-cabinet

I definitely see what youre saying. That almost raises more questions than answers lol. My shop owner is pretty sure hes had that box kicking around for years (hes an honest guy, but i won't call him organized lol he could be mistaken). And that auction is from 2016. Almost makes you wonder when they copied it.

Ill keep doing some digging, its almost shifting from a "is it real?" Investigation to a "when did they fake this?" Conversation lol

[DrSatanis]

More pictures, I broke out the big boy inspection lighting at work and the big magnifier. Unfortunately my phone camera is still terrible

https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0PUMv
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0Ps9t
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0P4Fp
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0PPSI
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0PLAX
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0PyKl
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0i9l2
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0inKQ
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0i5xa
https://freeimage.host/i/Kd0icfR

Things I notice:

It is two pieces of paper stuck together, as should be able to be seen from the first image. That being said, the picture itself is on the same printed layer that the text is on. There is no "edge" where the picture itself meets where the words are.

I included close ups of all damage, of the printing (which under zoom feels like inkjet), and random spots on the picture.

Obviously I think its safe to say at this point, its fake. But just want to double triple check before I get rid of her lol

[Joe_G.]

Sorry to say but it is not authentic. It should be an albumen print (photo) glued to a thick cardboard backing and it is not. None of the images look real to me, the mount is too thin, unusual trim, and so on. Many red flags.

[DrSatanis]

Originally Posted by Joe_G.

Sorry to say but it is not authentic. It should be an albumen print (photo) glued to a thick cardboard backing and it is not. None of the images look real to me, the mount is too thin, unusual trim, and so on. Many red flags.

Appreciate it Joe, now that I've found more examples of originals (on a much bigger screen than my phone), the issues are quite apparent.

Eh as part of an 80 dollar combo deal, it was worth the shot, given the complete lack of knowledge on my part!

Appreciate it everybody!