Bobby Mathews tintype (1888 uniform)

[TNcollect]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Scott, if you just want to know if your tintype is vintage, send it to someone who has handled them and they should be able to tell you immediately.

I deal in antique photographs! I have handled thousands of antique tintypes.

I am not certain.

Scott

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by TNcollect

I deal in antique photographs! I have handled thousands of antique tintypes.

I am not certain.

Scott

I recommend sending it to someone who feels they would be certain. No knock on your expertise, but I can think of several instances when someone who had handled hundreds of examples of a particular item just wasn't sure, and in two cases the items were sent to me and I gave him an immediate answer. I can also think of instances where I wasn't certain about an item that I owned, but a fellow collector gave me a definitive opinion - so it could have something to do with being too close to the item.

Just from your scans, I agree with Scott.

Edited to add: a general rule of thumb is that if you aren't sure, it's no good.

[TNcollect]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I recommend sending it to someone who feels they would be certain. No knock on your expertise, but I can think of several instances when someone who had handled hundreds of examples of a particular item just wasn't sure, and in two cases the items were sent to me and I gave him an immediate answer. I can also think of instances where I wasn't certain about an item that I owned, but a fellow collector gave me a definitive opinion - so it could have something to do with being too close to the item.

Just from your scans, I agree with Scott.

Edited to add: a general rule of thumb is that if you aren't sure, it's no good.

Thanks Scott-- I appreciate your time and thoughts and agree completely with your last statement!

I am taking it with me to a show this weekend, so I can get a few second opinions.

Scott

[barrysloate]

Scott- I collected 19th century baseball photography for about twenty years, and I never came across an original tintype from the 1880's that pictured a major league ballplayer in full uniform such as the one you have. Given that fact, plus its originating from the Vermont find, and I would say with near certainty it is not period. Virtually every photo that came out of that find was reproduced, so the likelihood of yours being ca. 1888 is not good.

Of course, you should still try to get some additional opinions.

[sgbernard]

Sorry, have come in late, but has anyone pointed this out yet? An identical Matthews photo with the same orientation was sold as part of the Vermont Find for sure:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...25.html#photos

[TNcollect]

Originally Posted by sgbernard

Sorry, have come in late, but has anyone pointed this out yet? An identical Matthews photo with the same orientation was sold as part of the Vermont Find for sure:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...25.html#photos

THANKS sgbernard!

That is exactly what I was hoping to find. It confirms that the tintype would have been a copy image no matter what the era.

I really appreciate the assistance.

Scott

[oldjudge]

My opinion, as I said in your prior post, is that it is not period. Its' value is minimal.