Buck Weaver / Lee Quillen items / cabinet photos HELP

[Duluth Eskimo]

I was set up at a show this past weekend and a middle aged couple came in with some very nice items. The items originate from Lee Quillen (Quillin) who played for the Minneapolis Millers, Denver Bears / Grizzlies and Duluth (MN) White Sox. The cabinet photos are approximately 11x14 and the individual photo is about 25-30 inches tall. The one with the cards is probably 20 inches wide. Here are my questions:

1. This isn't George "Buck" Weaver is it? It looks too old to be him, but they both have some flared ears and Buck Weaver was with the White Sox in his rookie season of 1912. The individual photos appear to be thicker card stock, but I am not familiar with these if they are cards. Dutch Leonard is also in the group.

2. Please give me your estimates on values of each. I told them some prices based on what I know, but I am looking for additional help from photo experts as these are minor league items and I don't know what kind of interest Denver items would bring. I do know they are very nice.

Thanks for the help. Jason

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

1. This isn't George "Buck" Weaver is it? It looks too old to be him, but they both have some flared ears and Buck Weaver was with the White Sox in his rookie season of 1912.

Not Buck Weaver - not even close. All facial features are quite different, and Weaver's ears stick out a lot more.

[Duluth Eskimo]

I saw the same photos in my research. Thanks, Jason

[drcy]

If they're all original, Quillen is pictured in each and the Quillen provenance is documentable/provable, then I'd say $2,000+ for the lot. Just a rough guess. If they're original, each is probably one of a kind (unique) and Quillen was a Major Leaguer and T206 player. For an example, if the one Duluth team photo was mine, I'd offer it for $500+. If original, the biggest one with the 'cards' was once quite a display piece, but has seen better days, perhaps is homemade, and I assume the names on the cards were added later. Duly note, all those photos are types that would be given to a team member, so the provenance is believable. Due to the huge size, the single player photo is quite unusual and rare and it shows a Minneapolis Millers player (I assume Quillen) which is a popular team. A unique collection. And my estimate is based on that that guy not being Buck Weaver.

P.s. the photos all appear genuine/original in your picks, though, as said, the writing on the 'cards' no doubt was added later, perhaps much later.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Thanks for the info, they're all original.

[drcy]

As it's a unique, never before seen collection, and it's hard to predict what specific bidders would bid, pricing is guessing.

[Scott Garner]

Jason,
The HB "Dutch" Leonard signed photo at the bottom is a scarce one and could command a price of $1000 or more IMHO by itself.

This is an item that I would be interested in personally. I cannot see the full year of this Grizzly team, but I'm assuming it is 1912. This was the only year that "Dutch" is reported to have played for the Grizzly's...

Definitely a terrific and unique collection, needless to say!

[RUKen]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

This isn't George "Buck" Weaver is it?

Nobody named Weaver played for Denver that season; it may be a coach. I've attached below the Spalding Guide photo of the team, with names.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Jason,
The HB "Dutch" Leonard signed photo at the bottom is a scarce one and could command a price of $1000 or more IMHO by itself.

This is an item that I would be interested in personally. I cannot see the full year of this Grizzly team, but I'm assuming it is 1912. This was the only year that "Dutch" is reported to have played for the Grizzly's...

Definitely a terrific and unique collection, needless to say!

Scott,
Thanks for the info. I am not sure that they are autographs or just labeled by someone for each team member. A number of letter formations look very much the same.

Still hoping for more opinions and just for the record, I do not own them yet.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

Scott,
Thanks for the info. I am not sure that they are autographs or just labeled by someone for each team member. A number of letter formations look very much the same.

Still hoping for more opinions and just for the record, I do not own them yet.

Jason,
I believe you are correct.
Upon very close inspection, it does appear that the "Dutch" Leonard name written on this photo is not in Leonard's hand.

That being said, it's a terrific collection of early photos of this Grizzly team. Very cool!

[Lordstan]

When looking at all of the individual photos together, it appears that all the writing is the same level of darkness and flow. This suggest to me they were all done by the same person.

[drcy]

As I said, it's guesstimate based on experience and judging the rarity and quality of the photos.

$300-600 for the team photos if in nice shape. Any cabinet-style display photos of minor league teams are scarce, and these show a Major Leaguer and belonged to him. 90 percent of cabinet-style team photos seem to be of high school, junior high, casual teams and similar, a majority unidentified. You just don't see many of identified and dated minor league teams.

$250 and up for the composite. It's in very rough shape but is one of a kind. If you removed the individual player photos, were able to identify the palyers and sold them singly (I said 'if,' not that you should), they could sell $20+ each. That's $300+ right there.

$300-$500. Need to find the right buyer but it's a one of a kind, giant photo of a Miller that belonged to the player. Unique Minneapolis Miller display item and there are Millers collectors out there. The Millers are one of the most collectable old time minor league teams out there, up there with Pacific Coast League teams.

As I said, each item is probably unique, and definitely unique if you include the fact they belonged to a T206 player. With the T206 White Sox player provenance, the value, rarity and desirability is only enhanced. Famous or otherwise significant provenance adds to the value of photos. A 1985 Yankees team photo that is known to have belonged to George Steinbrenner or hung on the wall at Yankee Stadium will sell for more than the same photo without special provenance.

One thing about them is they're obscure and esoteric. Someone familiar in the area will realize their rarity and significance, but it's not as if they are New York Yankees photos where everyone and his uncle will instantly see the significance. On the other hand, the two team photos have clear display value to anyone who sees them.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Thanks David. That is the level that I told them, but I am not an expert on items like that. I just wanted to make sure I was being fair with them. Jason

[bmarlowe1]

Jason - Could you post a close-up of Charlie French? No doubt that's him, but I could use it for future reference.

Thanks,
Mark

[Dto7]

The player named Weaver is Art Weaver who played on the 1910 team and was cut from the 1911 team.Below shows Weaver in a newspaper showing 1911 team and Weaver is #7.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Thanks for the info Don. Looks right, but I didn't think Art went by "Buck" per my research. Looks like the same guy to me though.

Mark, sorry for the delay. It was a busy week at work. Unfortunately this is as close as I can get for Charlie French. Hope it helps. Jason

[bmarlowe1]

Thanks Jason.

[Dto7]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

Thanks for the info Don. Looks right, but I didn't think Art went by "Buck" per my research. Looks like the same guy to me though.

Jason, Here's where they called him Buck with the 1903 St. Louis Cardinals Spring camp and with the 1904 Minneapolis Millers.

[Dto7]

Also found this one from 1909

[Duluth Eskimo]

You're right again. Thanks