Show your Baseball Ambrotypes

[ruth-gehrig]

Fantastic pickup Leon! Im really digging the early stuff lately. (As opposed to the latest stuff earlier )

[ramram]

Outstanding ambro Leon. You can also add a piece of black felt behind the image to make up for any loss of the black, however, the attached paper does complicate the issue.

Would love to see that boy try to swing that colossal piece of lumber.

Rob M

[Leon]

Thanks Rob et al. I should have it in hand tomorrow,.
As I was saying to Barry S (hey Barry) I think that since this is the type of Ambro which has the black varnish type backing, instead of another piece of black glass, I will most likely do my best to preserve it exactly the way it is. I might let a conservator look at it but I can't imagine I would try to do very much to an image that has survived as well as it has for so long. My main concern is any type of deterioration. So in that respect if there is any kind of stabilizing that could be done, I would consider it. Also, taking the paper off the back might not be smart as it is quite identifying the way it is. There is virtually no leap of faith needed for the exact year and person, which seems unusual on very early baseball photos.

Originally Posted by ramram

Outstanding ambro Leon. You can also add a piece of black felt behind the image to make up for any loss of the black, however, the attached paper does complicate the issue.

Would love to see that boy try to swing that colossal piece of lumber.

Rob M

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Leon

Thanks Rob et al. I should have it in hand tomorrow,.
As I was saying to Barry S (hey Barry) I think that since this is the type of Ambro which has the black varnish type backing, instead of another piece of black glass, I will most likely do my best to preserve it exactly the way it is. I might let a conservator look at it but I can't imagine I would try to do very much to an image that has survived as well as it has for so long. My main concern is any type of deterioration. So in that respect if there is any kind of stabilizing that could be done, I would consider it. Also, taking the paper off the back might not be smart as it is quite identifying the way it is. There is virtually no leap of faith needed for the exact year and person, which seems unusual on very early baseball photos.

Leon,

That photo is badass. Congrats on your rare pickup.

Ben

[Leon]

Received the photo yesterday and it is better than expected. It really is 3D in person. I have never seen anything quite like it. I guess my title to this thread was a bit ignorant as, at the time, I didn't realize they are as rare as they are. I couldn't find, other than Cartwright (not in baseball attire) more than a total of 3 other images of baseball attired Ambrotypes. No sales found whatsoever. Once it was out of the well packaged box, I examined it and carefully put it back in the tissue and in a padded box....and in a cool safe place. As stated, I might have a conservator take a look at it to stabilize it, if possible, but most likely I will try to keep it 100% the way I got it.
it's also seems difficult to find any really old baseball photo like this with a pinpoint date. So that does make it a bit more interesting as we don't have to say "circa" and all experienced hobbyists I have chatted with say to leave the back paper the way it is. I am sure I will. This is the kind of stuff that keeps it fun for me. Happy collecting and off to the next "find".

ps...I inquired and the seller said this came from an auction they won it at. They did ask the auctioneer about its provenance as they also like to know. Unfortunately, there was none. It just walked in....