Christie's Buried Treasure thread

[T206Jim]

I was fortunate to win a couple of lots at the Christie's and just received my winnings today. I had requested access to several lots, so I knew what was there, but I was stunned at the sheer volume of magnificent images buried within 75 photo lots with only a handful of the images actually posted publicly in the auction listing.

So, I'm starting this thread to post your "Buried Treasure, photos that were not publicly shown in the listing images. Please share yours, but "buried treasure" only!

Here is one of mine. It comes from lot 210 and is one of my very favorite Bender images. I have been searching for this exact copy for years. It was my photographic White Whale! It was last seen in a Legendary Auction some years back. If anyone has a copy of the catalog with that listing I'd appreciate a shot of the listing as I could have sworn it mentioned Paul Thompson.

In any event, post away, I doubt we will discover such buried treasure in any other auction anytime soon. I will post more images in a few days, but suffice it to say, as a buyer, I am thrilled with Christie's.


Bender-APA-1911.jpg

[RedsFan1941]

this is the description when legendary auctioned it, in december 2009. it sold for $2,370.



Chief Bender - Thompson Original Photo

Original Thompson writing, American Press Association Stamp Authenticated by PSA; Full PSA letter accompanies.

[T206Jim]

Thanks Ronnie, great information! The PSA letter is no longer with it, anyone had any luck back tracing a cert # from PSA to view the letter online?

[whitey19thcentury]

I won only one photo lot (a team photo lot), but won several more lots, including the Coveleski and Wilmer Fields lots. I have no clue what is all in them, I bid just judging by the writeups and what I saw in the photo provided.
I am still waiting for my winnings to arrive. I got a suspicion that the Fields lot is going to be filled with treasures.

[btcarfagno]

I posted a thread in this section several days ago regarding a Ty Cobb photo in one of the lots that I won. The photo is very clear and almost certainly from the original negative. Only question to me is whether a type one or type two. If it turns out to be a type one (which I have a feeling that it is), I will be more than a little bit happy.

A Ty Cobb full size type one with full borders dated to 1907 by Cahrles Conlon? Yes please!

Was not photographed or even mentioned in the write up.

[TCMA]

I won several lots as well and picking them up at Christie's today. Spent about five hours there last week, so I definitely did know what I was getting. Here's a scan from their site of one of my favorites. Will post more once I have everything in-hand:

[photomoto]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

I posted a thread in this section several days ago regarding a Ty Cobb photo in one of the lots that I won. The photo is very clear and almost certainly from the original negative. Only question to me is whether a type one or type two. If it turns out to be a type one (which I have a feeling that it is), I will be more than a little bit happy.

A Ty Cobb full size type one with full borders dated to 1907 by Cahrles Conlon? Yes please!

Was not photographed or even mentioned in the write up.

That's an interesting "Cobb" image. In my experience, the Spalding stamp usually means that the print was made in the 1920s. The image itself is the last photo pictured in the McCabe's classic "Baseball's Golden Age", showing Conlon's prints from original negatives. The photo is identified as a 1910 shot of Hack Simmons. Dennis Goldstein

[TCMA]

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[slidekellyslide]

Is it safe to say that christie’s did not do their due diligence for their consignor?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Is it safe to say that christie’s did not do their due diligence for their consignor?

Wow, is that ever an under-statement! I checked out the catalog but did not have the guts to bid on anything.

[TCMA]

In my case, the treasure actually WAS buried. Shot this it Christie’s when I went to pickup. Guy had to dig through the boxes to find my lots so I could condense and carry home:




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[TCMA]

One box held three box binders, the other held two box binders. Those binders were in a smaller box, surrounded with packing peanuts, inside the boxes you see there. Also, each binder box was wrapped in plastic and secured with tape. Maximum overkill.


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[whitey19thcentury]

Now I know why I paid over $500 for shipping!!!!

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by whitey19thcentury

Now I know why I paid over $500 for shipping!!!!

Best have a sharp blade handy once they arrive. Lots of hacking and slashing in your future.

[whitey19thcentury]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Best have a sharp blade handy once they arrive. Lots of hacking and slashing in your future.

Packages came today. Two huge boxes, one box held the framed and matted Puerto Rican league whiskey display piece. The other box held all the other lots I won. Those lots were individually boxed in two boxes per lot, really. At least I got a boatload of packaging supplies to reuse! I appreciate the time and effort that they used to package my items, but wow. I have been buying from online auctions for close to 20 or so years now, and I never saw so much precaution take in shipping items. The shipping cost for the lots I won was over $500, which was more than 10% of my costs of the lots I won.

[TCMA]

Very happy with these two from my Giants lots. 1922 and 1923:





Not to mention this one hiding in the weeds:






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[whitey19thcentury]

I'd be interested to see any Pirates photos from any of the lots, including the team lots.

[btcarfagno]

Now I get why he was called Highpockets. That never clicked until just now.

[T206Jim]

"Home Run" is an apt moniker for this gem from lot 53.

HR-Baker.jpg

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by T206Jim

"Home Run" is an apt moniker for this gem from lot 53.

Very nice! Is there a news service stamp on the back?

[whitey19thcentury]

5x7 Thorne Yankees team photo. This came out of the Coveleski photo album. I assume that this is the 1928 season since that was Coveleski's lone season with them.

[T206Jim]

Baker.jpg

I just discovered that Baker swung a 52 ounce bat, most modern bats are 32 ounces. This photo has always struck me as such an evocative image of the Deadball Era and that size differential might explain why the photo is so striking to the modern eye.

[Jobu]

How cow Jim, that Bender photo is out of this world. Congrats!

Originally Posted by T206Jim

Attachment 312388

[TCMA]

Some gems from Lot 90. Looks like the 1906 Cincinnati Reds.

First image:
Top right - Cy Seymour
Top left - Al Bridwell

Second image:
Top left - Miller Huggins
Top right - Frank Jude
Bottom left - Paddy Livingston
Bottom right, Admiral Schlei





Plus an RPPC from Addie Joss Day:






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[GKreindler]

Did anyone here happen to win lot #98 with all of the Cuban baseball related photos?

https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/g...ction-98/54166

I'm trying hard to get my hands on a high-res scan of the team shot of the '38/'39 Leones, which was featured in the top right corner of the preview:



Can anyone lend a hand?

Thanks,

Graig

[Kris19]

I guess you could say this Home Run Baker Photo was double-buried. After a week of pouring over our photos, under the “Sport Pictorial” sticker we discovered the always welcomed Paul Thompson stamp!

[Bicem]

Nice find Kris!

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Nice find Kris!

+1!!

[TCMA]

Another find in my lots. Both of these shots are of Al Demaree but the top photo was used for his 1914 T222 Fatima card:



Interestingly, the backgrounds are completely different:






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[horzverti]

I have to be honest, I really regret not bidding on any of these lots. The hidden gems remind of how buying sometimes was in the past. Surprise Conlons, Thompsons and photos used for pre-war...great stuff guys! Needless to write, but bids will be probably be nuts next time around for these types of lots.

[Bicem]

Great find Andrew! Had no idea they doctored the backgrounds on the Fatima cards.

I've been going through my winnings the past few days, will post some finds soon.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Another find in my lots. Both of these shots are of Al Demaree but the top photo was used for his 1914 T222 Fatima card:



Interestingly, the backgrounds are completely different:






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Now you need to find the photo that the background was used for..

[btcarfagno]

Nice buried pair here. There are others, but these two are my favorites:

1912 World Series action photo by Conlon




Thompson portrait photo of Harry Pulliam on which is written on the back "Harry Pulliam Who Shot Himself Yesterday"...just amazing

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Nice buried pair here. There are others, but these two are my favorites:

1912 World Series action photo by Conlon

Great shot but can't be the 1912 World Series, which was Boston vs. NY Giants. That shot is Boston vs. the NY Highlanders at Hilltop Park, north of the Polo Grounds .

[TCMA]

More importantly, that photo is the center panel on this T202 triple folder: