1903 Horner Composite....American League

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

this would be what said money was spent on.....I thought it was coming in a period frame and it didn't...it came in a newer frame....but this is it sans frame....

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Gorgeous piece, and I did know about it, of course.

[Archive]

Posted By: Joe D.

awesome Leon.

very very nice.

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve Murray

Fabulous!

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Prizner

droooool.....

so what's the story behind that gorgeous piece? where did you find it?

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

These were originally given to managers and executives on the teams. I very recently spoke to Rob L about this Composite I just got. He thinks it could possibly be the 2nd best one in existence behind the Halper one, which another board member owns. They were made in 1903 and 1904 and there are 10 or less known in total. The one you have shown in the 2006 REA auction is a reprint (yikes) and isn't in too good of condition, though still pretty nice. The one I have originally came from the Callahan (manager) estate and was auctioned by Hunt in 2003...at that time, and before cleaning, it went for 21k plus juice, to an infrequent board member and someone I know fairly well...It then got bought from him by someone else and that is where I got it...I had seen this at the National and have been working on the deal since then. It is much, much more clear and distinct in person. Next time you come over you can see for yourself.... regards

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Prizner

I deleted the link to the REA one right after I posted it b/c I saw that it was a reprint.

Congrats! Truly a wonderful piece! (I love Horner portraits) I can't wait to steal it... uh, I mean see it, the next time I come for a visit.

[Archive]

Posted By: Phil Garry

Leon:

Congratulations on that fantastic piece!!! I would love to have one.

[Archive]

Posted By: jay wolt

Wow! That's fantastic.
How big is the piece?

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

I really like it too...

Jay- it's approx 2ft by 2ft......

[Archive]

Posted By: andy becker

there's nice and then there is nice nice.

that piece is nice nice. congrats leon.

[Archive]

Posted By: Tony Andrea

"Very nice Leon". No quarter needed in the scan on this one, huh??

Tony

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

Horner's oversized composite photos are the Rolls Royces of early 1900s baseball photos.

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

Thanks again for the kind words. I am glad others like it as much as I do...The main reason to post now is because David (hi David) just bumped this to the top and I need to correct the size guesstimate from above. ....It is 21 1/4"w x 19 1/4"h, without frame .......

[Archive]

Posted By: J Levine

Great piece! Now all Leon needs to get is the National League version to complete the set. Good luck!

Joshua

[Archive]

Posted By: CoreyRS.hanus

Congrats Leon! But be careful or pretty soon you'll be addicted to memorabilia!!

There is no known Horner Nat'l League composite, which is interesting because there are Horner composites from that period of individual Nat'l League teams.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

I've also seen a Horner Eastern Minor League team composite, including notable players and a HOFer or three. Leon's kind (American & National League) is the most expensive and desirable.

[Archive]

Posted By: ErikV

Does anyone have a copy of the National League version

that they don't mind posting and sharing with the group?

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

I don't know that I've seen the NL version, and was theorizing its existence (Horner took individual photos of NL players, including Honus Wagner). As Leon would assure you, the AL version is much, much better anyway. The NL version is for losers who don't have Leon's photo.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

I don't know that I've seen the NL version, and was theorizing its existence (Horner took individual photos of NL players, including Honus Wagner). As Leon would assure you, the AL version is much, much better anyway. Leon's photo has the Red Sox and the Yankees and, according to ESPN, that's all that matters.

[Archive]

Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Wow.

-Al

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Corey posted early this morning that no National League Horner is known.

There is a team composite of the 1903 Highlanders (first year) that is different from all the others. It actually has circular photos of the players glued onto the cardboard mount, unlike the American League one that is really a photo of another photograph (that's how composites were shot).

This Highlander piece was sold in the Halper sale and is pictured in the catalog.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

I've seen a Red Sox team one, I believe including Cy Young. The individual team composites are not as big as the league ones and, while expensive, not as expensive as the league. None of Horner's photos are cheap-- including a cabinet of a single common player. It used to be that common players, in non-T206 pose, with wear and tear would sell for around $1,000 a piece. T206 portrait price goes higher. Team composites higher. League composites higher. How many baseball card issues in the SCD catalog start with pricing of $1,000 for Vg common? Nothing issued by Donruss, I assume.

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

The Red Sox one is a composite that was shot twice. The Highlander one is huge and very well may be a proof. It's the only one I know with the original images glued to the mount.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jason L

for some Refractors and maybe see if I could get a few Beam Teams thrown in.
But that's just me.

[Archive]

Posted By: scott brockelman

like the one Barry references above of the Highlanders. Bought it years ago from an auction house that did not know what it was. I will dig it out and post a scan,

Scott

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

Sounds as if they might be production items used to make the final photos, often much larger than the final cabinet or whatever. I saw a very large non-Horner, minor league 1800s composite photo that was used to make the smaller team cabinet photos. There no doubt was some studio logistics, artistry and technical know how involved in making big composite photos, especially when the final photos have artistic effects and text involved.

A photographer would have to jump through some studio hoops to get a final product like below. He didn't line up the players like that and take one photograph. There were numerous studio photos and original art involved in the making of this finished cabinet. There was no other way to get the fanciful design. Horner's composites were large and elaborate products. Leon's photo shows over 100 people, with ornate designs between the vignettes.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimB

Awesome piece!
JimB

[Archive]

Posted By: samuel

I usually don't go for memoribilia, but that is amazing.

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

Jim - thanks for the kind words

Samuel- I am right there with you. I am not a memorabilia guy at all. That being said I went by the "if you are only going to have one" rule... We are eating rice and beans for the next year though....

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

One last pic before going to the framer....scans and pictures just don't do it justice though...