1870s Boston find

[btcarfagno]

While I have no idea the value of the individual scorecards, I do believe that the letter alone could fetch over $100k. That Boston team featured five or so members of the 1869 Red Stockings team. If all of them signed this, including Wright and Wright and Spalding all during their playing days, I have to think that a bidding war could ensue of HOF autograph collectors. This would be perhaps the best example extant of the signature of three key HOFers. As such, I would guess that the letter by itself would garner well north of $100k. Not near $1mil....but over $100k.

Tom C

[barrysloate]

I missed that the letter was signed, my bad. I was looking at the OP's picture, and couldn't tell it was signed. So yes, maybe something north of 150k would be a reasonable estimate. But not a million, won't happen.

[Tomman1961]

My wife was there Saturday. It was at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. The episodes will air "Fall 2014" it what she was told.

[Tabe]

What is the..."thing"...in the bottom left corner of the board? Looks like a modern day "book" card but obviously isn't. ???

[autograf]

Appears to be an 1860's-1880's CDV/Cabinet photo album. Pretty common and of no value really to the lot. I could see a couple of people getting crazy on the letter since it's historical significance and all those signatures there together on a single document. I'll wager $150-$225K. Not sure anyone would go crazy on the trimmed Mort Rogers scorecards. A clean one is probably $10-$20K based on previous sales. Would these be worth $1-$2K each to someone.....or more? Or less? A very historically significant lot. Does the HOF bid on stuff like that?

[barrysloate]

The reason all of the photographic pieces are badly trimmed is so the original owner could then fit them into the slots of that CdV album. That is certainly how they were preserved for 140 years. Had the scorecards remained loose and never been trimmed, it is highly likely they would have been thrown out or lost many years ago. CdV albums were the most common way for families to save and display their photos.

[bgar3]

I would certainly like the trimmed scorecards, I think the photos are what are important and I would never grade them or care about grades. While I doubt I am the only one who thinks that way, I hope I am.