Vintage cubs world champions mirror

[sicollector1954]

Yes--the person who now owns it is looking to possibly sell in the near future. It has been passed down in the family and I am trying to find out as much info/value about it as possible....not my area of knowledge so any comments here is a big big help.
I posted some pictures once here before about it but it was awhile ago and at the time it was not in my possession. Now that it is, I have to say it seems to be original in all aspects and the condition for surviving over 100 years is great...will probably take to Chicago and get some opinions from people there as well. I figure a devoted Cub fan would covet this item as who knows when they will win another World Series??

[sporteq]

nice!! 1908

[bmarlowe1]

I'll refrain from guessing and tell you that the presence of Doc Gessler (8 o'clock) and Tom Walsh (9 o'clock) tells us that this is the 1906 club pictured, regardless of what is says at the bottom or when the pin was issued. Also, all of the faces come directly from a well-known 1906 team photo, shown below.

[sicollector1954]

Thanks...this is exactly why I need you guys to try and tell me exactly what this thing is and what's it worth!

[sporteq]

Originally Posted by sicollector1954

Thanks...this is exactly why I need you guys to try and tell me exactly what this thing is and what's it worth!

I don't recall ever seen a mirror example of this image, only pinbacks. Probably $4/5k

Good luck

Al

[sicollector1954]

Thanks Al for the input.....not what I collect but for the right price I guess I could become a Cub fan....lol.

[sicollector1954]

Thanks very much Al...I have now identified all of the players with your help including the Trainer and Treasurer who are also pictured as well from the 1906 photo of the team you supplied. Interesting that Doc Gessler is in the picture on the mirror but he did not play in the 1907 season yet the caption at the bottom has them as the World Champions! Go figure.

[sporteq]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

I'll refrain from guessing and tell you that the presence of Doc Gessler (8 o'clock) and Tom Walsh (9 o'clock) tells us that this is the 1906 club pictured, regardless of what is says at the bottom or when the pin was issued. Also, all of the faces come directly from a well-known 1906 team photo, shown below.

They often used older picture in later produced items. For example 1909 T206 Honus Wagner. The images is from 1902 shot by Carl Horner.

Al

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by sporteq

They often used older picture in later produced items. For example 1909 T206 Honus Wagner. The images is from 1902 shot by Carl Horner.

Al

Yes I know that - it was implicit in my response. I was simply answering the original question that started this thread about the date of the team depicted, "I...was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is from the 1907 team or the 1908 team..."

[sporteq]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

Yes I know that - it was implicit in my response. I was simply answering the original question that started this thread about the date of the team depicted, "I...was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is from the 1907 team or the 1908 team..."

Sorry if it came out weird.. the post was intended for members who are new to collecting etc. Have lots of fun


Al

[sicollector1954]

SORRY AND THANKS MARK!!!! I am just trying to take all of this in and trying to keep everything straight.....
if any of you guys that have posted here are going to be at the National.....and want to see this item in person.....please feel free to contact me at sicollector1954@charter.net and I will give you info in regards to contacting me and when I will be there. Thanks again everyone for your input.

[springpin]

This is truly a magnificent item. To me, the most interesting part is the reverse. There are images that have been made into both celluloid pins and mirrors. The construction process is different for each. The collet is the round piece on the reverse that holds the image, the celluloid cover, and a round metal disk (that is, what we see when we turn a pin over) together. As such, the collet holds all the parts in place. In a pin, the collet is not very thick or deep, just deep enough for a spring pin to be inserted for wearing the pin. With a mirror back, the collet must be thicker, as a glass mirror takes up more space than a spring pin. In production, the collet serves to crimp the mirror in place. But this item is beyond just a mirror. It also features a handle, which from my inspection of the photo, is not affixed to the collet, but appears to be an extension of the collet itself. From a construction standpoint, this "super collet" is extremely thick, thick enough to extend above the back rim of the mirror, and also double as a handle. Quite apart from its desirability as a baseball memento, it is extraordinary from a design standpoint. You would think after 100 years of use as a woman's pocket mirror placed in a handbag, being bumped and jostled, the handle part would have broken off by now. Many mirrors from that era are missing, severely cracked, or have lost some of the silvering on the reverse that produces the mirroring effect. This item seemingly retains its original features. As a baseball item, the "mirror with handle" does not enhance its value per se, but as a beautiful exemplar of a bygone manufacturing process, it is an extraordinarily wonderful specimen. If I had to assess its current value, I would start with the prevailing price of the pin version of this item, and then add whatever a collector wants to pay for this most unusual artistic expression.

Paul