Is This An Amazing Discovery?….Or Just Meh?

[piecesofthegame]

Been meaning to have a moment to show my latest purchase. I’ve been taking a little break from spending but could not resist this when I saw it. I enjoy looking at 1800s ambrotypre, dageurreotype, and tintype photography, and, of course, looking for a baseball related find.

This ambrotype appeared to be nothing special until I read the newspaper clipping included with the photo and case. Take a moment to read it. It appears this Charles H. Gilman was part of a very early (1860) baseball club, perhaps at Bowdoin College in Maine, and died prematurely.

Unfortunately, I got very little on the internet regarding this, other than a Bowdoin College
web page mentioning a Charles H. Gilman scholarship opportunity. I plan to reach out to Bowdoin to ask if they have any details about this.

Any chance anyone here has a Bowdoin College connection? In any case, would love to hear the thoughts from experienced 19th century collectors. You guys teach me so much and I’m amazed what I learn when I post something interesting like this!




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[sb1]

Appears to be Charles H. Gilman of Laconia, Belknap county, New Hampshire. I could not find any online images of him to compare.

[Lucas00]

The problem here is proof. While the chances are good that the clipping matches the guy shown. There’s no way to rule out somebody adding the clipping in at a later date to a random ambrotype they had lying around.

That’s my opinion at least. If you were to sell it I would bet you’d get bidders who will have no problem with the provenance. But I personally would need more.

Great item!

[piecesofthegame]

I would tend to agree with you Lucas. And I thought about that when I bought it. But then I thought, “this random clipping was saved and perfectly folded to a size that fits the picture case” My guess is it was kept with A photo. Unless somehow the two pieces were separated over the years, it probably goes with THIS photo. But you are right, unless we can positively put the two together, there’s just no proof.

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by piecesofthegame

I would tend to agree with you Lucas. And I thought about that when I bought it. But then I thought, “this random clipping was saved and perfectly folded to a size that fits the picture case” My guess is it was kept with A photo. Unless somehow the two pieces were separated over the years, it probably goes with THIS photo. But you are right, unless we can positively put the two together, there’s just no proof.

Just the fact the clipping mentions baseball and is from 1860 is special.

That is uncommon, and probably pre dates most board members earliest pieces.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Just the fact the clipping mentions baseball and is from 1860 is special.

That is uncommon, and probably pre dates most board members earliest pieces.

+1

No realistic chance for proof, I would guess. You could try reaching out to Bowdoin College perhaps.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Damn! That's pretty cool. Great find!

[Danny Smith]

Whatever it is it’s pretty damn cool.

[bgar3]

I believe This article refers to the first base ball club in Boston, started by John Lowell in 1858. First called the the Bowdoin Square Base Ball Club, the dropped the Square in 1859. Lowell went on tho found the Lowell, Base Ball club, which was on of 3 major teams in the Boston area and he was the one who awarded the silver ball. It is likely the Bowdoin team played under the Massachusetts rules. The headquarters was near Bowdoin street. See John Thorn mlb blog piece.
I can’t tell anything about the image, but it is interesting and probably the person, but just can’t tell at this point. Also, I can’t tell from just the photo whether it is actually an ambrotype, I assume you have checked. I think it was worth taking a shot at if fairly inexpensive.

[h2oya311]

Bruce, your knowledge of early baseball history is astonishing! Cool photo!

[smokelessjoe]

Maybe this is him

[1952boyntoncollector]

Meh

[GaryPassamonte]

I believe John Lowell is in the center.

[aelefson]

Amazing discovery! Did you find it antique shopping, on eBay, or somewhere else? As an avid Massachusetts area antique shopper (and collector of early baseball), I kind of hope it wasn't at one of the shops I frequent but regardless, great find! I agree about Bruce's incredible early baseball knowledge and his willingness to share.

[bgar3]

Thanks Derek, but I wish.
As for Bowdoin, I am pretty certain since the college did not have an actual team until later in the 1860’s.
There is a good page on the team in Lovett’s, Old Boston Boys and the Games They Played. He lists a lineup for the team but from 1863 I think, so after he died.

[Steve D]

From what I can tell from the 1850 and 1860 US federal census', he lived in Gilford, Belknap County, New Hampshire; both years with his parents and siblings. He was born in 1834; so he was 26 when he died.

Steve

[piecesofthegame]

Thanks for your input everyone, I really LOVE this sight.

@Bruce (bgar)—Bruce you never disappoint! Excellent insights. And I think with your help we are slowly putting this puzzle together. I think you are correct in saying that he belonged to a BOSTON club because the newspaper clipping mentions the message from fellow members coming from Boston. There is even a Bowdoin Square in Boston to this day.

Also (and I don’t know why I didn’t notice this before) the first sentence says that he was 26 years old (past college age).

@Alan (aelefson)—Although I actually live in Massachusetts myself, I found this on eBay. Was surprised to find it. So no need to beat yourself up that you didn’t find it at an antique store!

@Steve (Steve D)—I definitely think you have found the right guy. The first sentence of this clipping mentions that he was 26. Nice clue. I just can’t figure out how a guy who lived in Gilford NH could be part of a Boston baseball club in 1860 (2 hrs from Boston by car).

In any case, the man in the photo looks to me to be around 26 yrs old. If I was a betting man, I’d bet the photo is of this player…but admittedly we may never know, unless I find a photo match to prove it, which seems unlikely.

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by bgar3

I believe This article refers to the first base ball club in Boston, started by John Lowell in 1858. First called the the Bowdoin Square Base Ball Club, the dropped the Square in 1859. Lowell went on tho found the Lowell, Base Ball club, which was on of 3 major teams in the Boston area and he was the one who awarded the silver ball. It is likely the Bowdoin team played under the Massachusetts rules. The headquarters was near Bowdoin street. See John Thorn mlb blog piece.

According to an article I found in the May 8, 1860 Boston Evening Transcript (on newspapers.com), and on the Protoball.org website, it looks like the Bowdoin Club played under the new (at the time) New York Rules.

Steve

[Tyruscobb]

Meh

[obcbeatle]

I'm sure you already know this but it bears mentioning here, ambro's had a short time frame of production , from 1855 to about 1865, and the images were developed directly on a plate of glass. Dags & tintypes are often enough found in those same types of cases. My experience has been that you sometimes have to remove the photo , very gently! , to confirm a dag vs ambro vs tintype, unless it's obvious in hand, of course. Anyway , beautiful photo , and thank for sharing , ambros can be stunning!

[bgar3]

Steve, you are correct that they shifted to the New York game, around 1860, but were founded earlier to play the Massachusetts Game. (According to Lovett) Their shift was very important for the development of the game and the Lowell’s, Harvard and Tri Mountains, the top teams of the 1860’s all played the New York game. The Lowell’s were named after the John Lowell of the Bowdoin team.

[Leon]

My only ambro..

Dated 1860