Q: Earliest baseball card signatures?

[oldjudge]

There was a full set of 1872 Red Stocking cabinets that we're auctioned years ago. All were autographed. They still reside with the person who won that lot.

[sreader3]

Thanks Jay. That answers part 1! (And maybe part 2).

While on topic, what is the situation with signed OJs?

[oldjudge]

One Mack signed on the back. The signature looks like it was late in Mack's life. I know of no others.

[sreader3]

Awesome! Thanks.

[prestigecollectibles]

Autographed Group of (8) 1871/72 Boston Red Stockings Cabinet Cards by Warren Studios
Estimate 50,000 — 60,000 USD
LOT SOLD. 120,000 USD

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...155/lot.1.html

[edhans]

Originally Posted by sreader3

.

While on topic, what is the situation with signed OJs?

I seem to recall a signed Hoy, but that could just be my memory playing tricks on me. It would be plausible, as he died in the sixties.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by edhans

I seem to recall a signed Hoy, but that could just be my memory playing tricks on me. It would be plausible, as he died in the sixties.

REA had this signed Hoy cabinet card five years ago or so.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

There was a full set of 1872 Red Stocking cabinets that we're auctioned years ago. All were autographed. They still reside with the person who won that lot.

That is one of my favorite groups of cards ever.

[oldjudge]

Mine too

[GaryPassamonte]

Mine three.

[drcy]

Of non-sport note, people, including celebrities, used CDVs to sign in the 1860s-70s. So you can find early CDVs signed by folks ranging from Charles Dickens to Robert E. Lee

[barrysloate]

Mine four. And I was part of a small group trying to win that lot- hi Gary- but it wasn't meant to be.

Some may remember it was part of a group of ten, and the two others were offered in a Mastro Auction that literally closed the night before the
Sotheby's Auction. The winner of the two from Mastro also won the other eight, and told us he was not going to let them go for pretty much any price.

Arguably they are the finest set of 19th century cards in the hobby.

[insidethewrapper]

Check out these from PBS : http://www.pbs.org/video/antiques-ro...kings-archive/

Was this group ever sold ? Seems like a high estimate ?

Note: These are different cards than the auto card cabinets discussed previously. These were from scorecards I believe.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Mine four. And I was part of a small group trying to win that lot- hi Gary- but it wasn't meant to be.

Some may remember it was part of a group of ten, and the two others were offered in a Mastro Auction that literally closed the night before the
Sotheby's Auction. The winner of the two from Mastro also won the other eight, and told us he was not going to let them go for pretty much any price.

Arguably they are the finest set of 19th century cards in the hobby.

I think that there were three offered separately - George Wright and a lot with Gould and Rogers.