Dating of The Reccius Cigar Card of Honus Wagner

[spacktrack]

For anyone not familiar with the Reccius Wagner card, I've included a picture below, followed by the cigar box REA auctioned featuring the same picture.

[Steve D]

I've just done a bit of research on Ancestry.com, and have found the following information:

According to the 1889 Louisville Phone Directory, Henry Reccius lived on Elliott Ave near 29th.

According to the 1900 Federal Census, he lived at 2803 Elliott Ave.

The 1901 Louisville phonebook has him at 2803 West Broadway, in the Cigar Manufactures section of the "Yellow" pages.

The 1902 Louisville phonebook, lists him at 2803 West Broadway.

In the 1904 Louisville phonebook, his residence was 2606 Elliott Ave

The 1904 phonebook further listed his business at 2603 West Broadway. It also has an Elsie Reccius (his wife), with a sewing business at 2803 West Broadway.

The 1910 Federal Census shows him and his family living at 2608 Elliott Ave.

He's further listed in the 1915 phonebook at 2608 Elliott Ave.

Now, in the 1919 phonebook, he's listed as working for the J B Coblens & Co at 431 Amy Ave.

Then in the 1920 phonebook, he's listed at 1824 W Jeff, again with J B Coblens & Co.

The 1925 Phone book has him at 402 Amy Ave.

So, based on the above, it appears to me that the card was probably issued before 1902. This is because in 1901, he had a business at 2803 West Broadway. The card shows his address at 2606 Elliott, which was his residence. It also specifically mentions his home phone. If it was issued in 1901 or later, it is logical to think he would have put the West Broadway address on it, as that was his business address. Since the card shows his home address (he presumably worked from home at the time), it must have been issued before that. Furthermore, since his address is listed as 2803 Elliott Ave in the 1900 Federal Census (dated 4 Jun 1900), the card was probably issued after that. All this, to me, puts the trade card's date of issue before 1902.

Steve

[Peter_Spaeth]

Steve I don't quite follow your logic. Suppose he closed the business address after a couple of years and moved it back home? It could have been issued any time in the late 00s or early to mid teens then, no?

[Steve D]

Peter,

That is a possibility.

I've also dug up the following interesting factoids:

Three of Henry Reccius' brothers, John, Bill and Phil, were in baseball.

John Reccius was a pitcher/centerfielder for the Louisville Eclipse (American Association) in 1882 and 1883.

Bill Reccius was the founder and manager of the Louisville Eclipse in the 1870s.

Phil Reccius played for Louisville from 1882 - 1888, Cleveland in 1887 and Rochester in 1890, all in the Amer Assoc.

The Reccius brothers were childhood friends of Pete Browning and Jimmy "Chicken" Wolf.

Reccius Baseball Park was the home of the team (at least from 1906 - 1915), at the NW corner of Garland Ave and 28th Street.

Steve

[Peter_Spaeth]

As there are references to both 2606 and 2608 Elliott, perhaps at a point he had acquired adjacent properties and used one for business.

[Kris19]

I realize this is pulling up a thread from nearly 5 years ago, but nearly everyone who posted is still active, so I thought you might be interested in a little addendum. Sorry, it doesn't solve the big question of the issue date of the Reccius Wagner.

Henry’s brother, John, pitched in the American Association for the Louisville Colonels. Immediately following his playing days, he opened a sporting goods store specializing "Base Ball Supplies" in Louisville. His store also sold, among other things, cigars.

I recently won the business/advertising card shown below in an auction. Based on information found in the Louisville City Directory and the Louisville Courier-Journal, J W Reccius operated his base ball supplies store at 1703 Market St (the address on the card) in 1883 and 1884, then moved to a new location at 342 Third St. in 1885.

[Rhotchkiss]

Great read. Thanks for reviving