1908 New York Giants Cabinet Card Joseph Hall

[bigfish]

Hello,

Wondering if anyone has seen this 1908 cabinet card before. I believe it is from Joseph Hall studios. Looks like Hall signed it at the bottom. It measures 22 X 34 and is quite large for it's kind. If anyone has information to share I would appreciate it.

[Jaybird]

I think you'd call this a composite photo more than a cabinet card. You're right it is large. Interesting piece. I'm assuming the individual ovals are not pasted on separately but this is probably a composite image where all of the ovals are placed on a background and then another picture is taken of that composition. That's a little different than a cabinet which is a photo pasted onto a cardboard mount.

If the actual ovals are pasted onto the cardboard, perhaps it's the proof or constructed piece for which postcards or other size photos were taken to reproduce.

Neat piece.

The Giants 1908 banner at the bottom seems crammed in there and off-center a bit and to me seems added after the fact? Also, no borders, etc. so hard to judge the full size of the original piece.

[bigfish]

Thanks Jason. You are right. It is a composite. Here is a close up of the 1908 Giants. It looks like hall signed it as well.

Copyright 1908

[Jaybird]

Interesting. Does it say Copyright 1905? Maybe he had the 1905 team and then moved some portraits around and labeled it 1908?

To me, again, this seems like a larger piece that would then be reproduced for postcards or other posters at the ballpark, programs maybe? Maybe you can look in 1908 programs to see this array? I don't ever remember seeing a postcard with this layout.

And it's certainly different than the Horner Composite from around 1903.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I believe that the ovals match the images pictured on the known individual 1908 Hall's Studio New York player cabinets.

[barrysloate]

Are you sure Joseph Hall and Hall are the same company? I've never seen a Joseph Hall later than the early 1890's.

Edited to add I can't read the signature...what does it say?

[bigfish]

Heritage had a 1905 Bridwell Joseph Hall cabinet. It says Joseph Hall in black at the bottom. I have never seen a Joseph Hall image in the 1900's other that the Bridwell example in heritage. Hoping to find out more info.

Signed copyright J Hall 1908 in black

[bmarlowe1]

Here's the Bridwell cabinet. It's the same Bridwell that's in the composite. It doesn't say Joseph Hall.

[Bicem]

Very interesting to see that a lot of the images used for t206 cards were actually from Hall's Studio and not just Horner. Nice piece.

[barrysloate]

Joseph Hall's studio was on Fulton Street in Brooklyn (my neighborhood) in 1888. I guess they could have moved it to Manhattan, just don't know.

[Hankphenom]

Awesome piece.

[ubiqty]

How much would you sell it for? You can e-mail me at scottg@accessmfgsys.com
Thanks,
Scott.

[drc]

When it was whole it had to be one of the largest baseball photos of the period. In it's current state it's still one of the largest I've seen.

I too have questions about the Joseph Hall-- but even if it isn't a Joseph Hall identity it stands on its own as a photograph. I don't know when Hall retired or died, so I don't know, but as with Barry I hadn't heard of him making baseball photos past the 1890s. As already mentioned, perhaps a later owner wrote in that stuff at the bottom before displaying it on his wall. But, if the photo is original, it is quite a piece no matter who photographed it. To me, the photographer identity is a secondary issue as far as value goes. The value would mostly due to the size and players.

It obviously has some condition issues, but if original it is a unique piece.

For the record, I would call it a mammoth photograph-- which is the name for antique (usually 1800s) photographs that were extremely large. Usually anything 20x20 inches or largest are called mammoth. If you want to called it a mammoth composite, that sounds good too.

I nearly never say this, but that's an item I say that's worth considering getting restored. If original and in nice condition, I'd call that a museum piece.

Duly note that I keep saying 'if original' because I haven't seen it in person, and I never say anything is original via digital photos. I'm not suggesting or implying I see anything wrong with it from in posted pictures.

Consider my 'if original' my pre-certification. To change it to 'original' cost $50 and a waiver that you won't sue me if I'm wrong. 'Definitely original!' cost $75. 'Thar she blows! The the White Whale!'-- $120. Three or more photos and you get a complimentary 'Yankees suck!'

[Jaybird]

In the second photo, it looks like the individual ovals might be pasted onto the background. Can you confirm?

[bigfish]

They are not pasted onto the mount.