Year in Review 2024

[aelefson]

Hi-

I had an incredible year finding some amazing items at antique shops, flea markets, and antique shows. How did you all do? Please share your cool finds.

It started in January, when I found a dealer at the Hartford CT Papermania show that had some awesome early Dartmouth sports photos. That dealer bought an amazing group of Dartmouth sports photos that were deaccessioned by the school in 2023. I bought some cool in-action large format football photos from the dealer but I knew there were some early baseball ones they had sold to another dealer. Luckily, that other dealer was a friend of mine, and he bought some of them to resell. He offered them to me at a great deal and I got several. I traded and sold a few and I kept a few. Below is one that shows the 1871 team and another that shows an in-action game in the 1880s.


Over the summer, I found an 1868 baseball statuette made by Muller. More than one baseball collector/dealer missed this item at Brimfield as a dealer I know was leaving the booth that had this piece when I entered. He later told me he did not think it was baseball related. I wasn't sure what it was myself as I thought it might be a 1920s version of one of the 1880s bisque figurines. The dealer who had it for sale was someone I have bought from before and when I asked the price he said 40.00. I told him that was too cheap (although I had no idea what it was). I paid him 100 and he was thrilled. Later, when I did my research, I gave him several hundred more dollars and he was blown away. I still got it at a good price but I felt better giving him more money. I also shared the knowledge I had about the item including what another example had sold for recently. This link has pictures and more information about the statuette.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...ghlight=muller

In November, a dealer friend let me know he was going to be selling items from a well known Americana dealer who had passed away a year ago. This dealer had amazing collections of political items, transferware, paintings, and more. Some of those collections have been sold through Heritage, Hakes, and other big auction houses. The baseball items were not at that level, but they were still amazing items including many unique pieces. Below are only two pieces (John L Sullivan cabinet photo that matches one of the Honest Long Cut cards, a really cool Gehrig pamphlet, and a WWII premium showing major league players with autographs). I will share more soon as there were two baseball shaving mugs, an 1800s baseball painting, a bisque figurine I have never seen before, and much more.

That should have been more than enough! However, I traveled to Iowa and Illinois for work recently. Two weekends ago, I found 40 1923 and 1924 Indians scorecards in an antique store in DeWitt Iowa. They are in great condition and most are scored. From the same dealer I bought a small group of late 1930s and early 1940s Minneapolis Millers programs including one from 1938 with Ted Williams. I also bought a 1920 Spalding booklet with Cincinnati Reds players on the covers from the same dealer.

Overall, it was an amazing year! There was more that I found in other categories (scouting and pop culture). It was my best antique shopping year I have ever had!

Alan

[aelefson]

Here are photos of the stack of scorecards I found and the 1920 Spalding booklet.

[71buc]

Congratulations you had a great year. Thanks for sharing and the fun read.

[Scott Garner]

WOW! What a pickup year!
Congrats, Alan.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Here are photos of the stack of scorecards I found and the 1920 Spalding booklet.

The 1920 Spalding booklet is fantastic. From a Reds collector, WOWZA!

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[aelefson]

Thank you guys! I am really amazed at what is still out there to find. Here are a few more items from the accumulation I bought in November (from the estate of a noted Americana dealer). The shaving mug has a Y stitched ball on it which makes it a somewhat earlier one. The ABC plates are my fifth and sixth examples. I already have a different version (different tint) of the running to first base plate but the base ball striker one is new for my collection.

[MGHPro]

Great stuff Alan !

[aquarius31]

Yes great stuff Alan and what a year! Thanks also for all your help in the 1895 Our Baseball Heroes Police Gazette, small world Please send more pics, would love to see the 1800’s painting too.


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[Exhibitman]

Very nice finds, and good to know they're still out there. I didn't find anything for the PC but did have some nice inventory pick-ups for resale, though I am contemplating keeping one nice piece:

[jbsports33]

Alan,

Great stuff! as always nice to see you at the Boston show and thanks for sharing all the pictures. Hope you have finds even better in 2025.

Jimmy