1870 Baseball Challenge Letter

[BigJJ]

This handwritten letter measures approximately 8 ½ in. by 10 ½ in., though the paper is actually twice that; it is folded in two. The inside is blank, as is the back.

Dated Sept. 4th, 1870, from A. Stroup, Manager, of Victoria, Jefferson County, Missouri to Mr. C. Pipkin (as best I can read it), Secretary of the Hillsboro B. B. C.:

"Dear Sir, I hereby challenge the first nine of your club to play the independent club of this place on next Saturday, Sept. 10th, 1870.”

With no telephone, how else are you going to arrange a game!

Nice quality lined paper with a “Congress” logo impressed into it at upper left – presumably Congress was the brand name of the nicer quality paper on which this letter is written.

Condition – excellent, mild general wear including very short tears in the top edge at the folds and very short tears in both the back and front sheets at the junctions of the folds, excellent condition, particularly given 142 years of age!

The Civil War had ended just five years prior to this letter.

Great eye appeal.

Asking $650, perhaps entertain offers, PM me, else it goes to a formal auction company.

Best,
Jon