Help dating an item

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Posted By: John S

Any ideas? My guess is late 1890's. Maybe someone knows a little more. The back is blank (unfortunately, the ornate photographer' ads sometimes found on the back are really cool). The cabinet is about 4" x 6". Share some of yours if you have them.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

My guess is 1890s.

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Posted By: Bob Lemke

That was the "official" spelling of the Steel City's name from 1890-1911, though by no means universally adopted.

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Posted By: Michael Moran

I can't make out the lettering on the ball - is it "C. A. P."? When I see C. and Pittsburg I think Carnegie.

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Posted By: Keith

Nice photo John. I think I was an underbidder on that one about a month ago on ebay. I too think the photo is from the probable mid 1890's. If I recall correctly, I think the seller stated that the ball read CAR, and though that that was in reference to the same street as the photogarpher was on - Carson Street - which didn't make that much sense to me. Looks like it could read CAP as well. If I remember correctly, the same seller has another 1890's Pittsburgh football cabinet photo that ended the same day. That photo had a player with a P on his chest, and the player was more of an adult looking player where as your photo looks like it could be a high school player.

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Posted By: John S

The player looks young, but if you look at many of the semi-pro photos from Western PA in the late nineteenth century their teams are supplemented with teenagers. Brailer from Latrobe would be a good example. Its difficult to argue however that the boy in this picture is a hardened pro.

Regarding the ball, the first two letters are defintiely "C." and "A.". The third letter seems to be a P. or another letter with a single left downstroke as the "." after that letter is visible. The photo itself is slightly blurry so that makes identifying the third letter more difficult.

As Mike stated C may stand for Carnegie and A possibly for Athletic. Keep the guesses coming! Thanks.

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Posted By: Dave

C.A.F. is a possibility (Carnegie athletic field) but wasn't built until 1910