Collecting Woodcuts - where to start?

[mouschi]

I had a fun idea to supplement my card collection with woodcuts - especially of those players whose cards may be exceedingly difficult to obtain. I feel like I'm in the middle of an ocean though, trying to research everything, so I would love some help / advice.

What all is out there for baseball fans to collect? Are there things other than "woodcuts" that are similar? What "key" issues are there? What about these hardcover bound "Harper's Monthly books"?

I also heard that they are basically all original works of art since there weren't printing presses back then.

So anyway, anyone who is willing to shed some light on this entire sect of collecting would be greatly appreciated!

[darwinbulldog]

The Jim Creighton memorial one is the best of the bunch, and even that generally goes for under $1000 except for the very nicest examples. But somebody lied to you about Johannes Gutenberg.

[darwinbulldog]

The 1869 Red Stockings and early Cap Anson woodcuts always seemed like a bargain to me.

[drcy]

Start looking for Harper's woodcuts on eBay.

They did have printing presses in the 1800s, but the pictures were 'handcarved' so are original artworks.

Nearly all the graphics in 1800s (1890s started to covert to modern reproductive methods) were handmade prints, so that includes business cards, trade cards, books, newspaper, magazines, Reach and Spalding guides, posters, programs. The Reach and Spalding guides have some excellent woodcuts.

But the Harper's is a great place to start, and lots of them to collect and they're high quality. You can find the pages or the entire magazines.

[bgar3]

Agree Harpers is a good place to start, but I think you will find the nice early baseball images are from Harper’s Weekly, not the monthly. Leslie’s and the New York Clipper are also excellent sources.
Something to consider would be to find the dates of the images you are interested in and then see if you can find that full issue listed, even if it doesn’t reference baseball.

[mouschi]

Excellent idea! Do you know if there is a list somewhere?

Originally Posted by bgar3

Agree Harpers is a good place to start, but I think you will find the nice early baseball images are from Harper’s Weekly, not the monthly. Leslie’s and the New York Clipper are also excellent sources.
Something to consider would be to find the dates of the images you are interested in and then see if you can find that full issue listed, even if it doesn’t reference baseball.

[drcy]

Then someday you can collect the complete set of original Albrecht Durer woodcuts

[bgar3]

Here is a starter list for Cincinnati.
July 3, 1869. Harper’s. Cincinnati team
July 24, 1869. Harper’s. Giant bat
July 2, 1870. Harper’s. Cincinnati batting against Atlantic’s.
If you see one you like somewhere, check the top to see if
There is a date and then compile a list. There is at least one great collector of woodcuts on this site, he probably has a list or has already posted it.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by mouschi

Excellent idea! Do you know if there is a list somewhere?

Yes. The Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards by Lew Lipset.

[Exhibitman]

One other thing to consider are etchings. Many books of the era used etchings as illustrations. Early boxers are often only available in career contemporary form in such book plates.

[aquarius31]

Those are some great early images from the NY Clipper. I’m not aware however of individual player photos and associated bios in the NY Clipper before 1870. Pre 1870 would have been primarily ‘games in progress’ woodcuts with individual photos, team photos (front page) mostly in 1870’s-1880s. I do have an extensive Clipper scrapbook depicting 10-15 players but definitely not the one that Phil is referencing.

The individual player woodcuts are unique to the NY Clipper. Yes there are a handful in Harper’s and Leslie’s along with a few from very obscure publications but nothing like the Clipper in terms of length of its run and subjects (many of which were not HoF).


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[Rob L]

Go after the Creighton first. $700 or less generally. Harpers are easier and generally cheaper.

[mouschi]

Originally Posted by Rob L

Go after the Creighton first. $700 or less generally. Harpers are easier and generally cheaper.

I'd love one for sure! Sadly, I don't see any available atm.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Hey, Brian:

I did a little checking online myself yesterday and came across the offerings that you provided but they are different. The scrapbook that appeared at auction maybe 10 years ago or so was a true scrapbook with individually cut-out pics w/bios still attached for almost all, I recall them being adhered to the scrapbook, two on a page, but I could be off there.

[aquarius31]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Hey, Brian:



I did a little checking online myself yesterday and came across the offerings that you provided but they are different. The scrapbook that appeared at auction maybe 10 years ago or so was a true scrapbook with individually cut-out pics w/bios still attached for almost all, I recall them being adhered to the scrapbook, two on a page, but I could be off there.

Hi Phil,
For comparison purposes, here’s the scrapbook that I own. There are 30-40 subjects with about half baseball. It’s not the one you previously referenced from Lew’s auction but sharing here as I think it’s along the lines of what you mention.IMG_8782.jpgIMG_8783.jpgIMG_8784.jpgIMG_8785.jpgIMG_8786.jpg

[bgar3]

Here is the Spalding Clipper, sorry for the delay.
In addition to the old judge publication there is a 2 volume more recent edition, I will try to find details.

[bgar3]

The book I am thinking of is called the, Complete New York Clipper Biographies, and is a Mcfarland publication. I think there is a one volume and 2 volume version.