Incredible Baseball Tintype Auction Yesterday

[Michael B]

[QUOTE=Joe_G.;1995479]I was watching for someone to post something about this auction, didn't think to look on the memorabilia side. I too was very impressed with the auction offerings.

I bid on four lots, won three. Nothing in the auction was directly within my collecting scope but I couldn't help myself, guilty of scope creep.

Lot #1 - Loved the Civil War tax stamp. A 5 cent tax meant this tintype cost between $0.51 - $1.00 which was a healthy sum for a single photo. The tintype is tinted (green pants) and likely purchased with a frame, both driving cost up (current frame could very well be original to tintype). Most canceled stamps lack a date but this photographer had a cancel stamp much like the post office with a clear March 10th, 1865 cancel. Neat cross-over collectable of early baseball image that can be precisely dated via a legible canceled Civil War tax stamp.





Due to the date stamp it is possible that the person was or had been in the military. Even though the rest of his outfit does not suggest it there were several military units during the Civil War that wore green pants, usually with piping:

1st U.S. Sharpshooters aka Berdan's Sharpshooters
Troy (N.Y.) Citizen's Corps
Portland (ME) Rifle Corps

The pants being short leads me to think that they have been re-purposed for baseball. I do not know how common piping was in civilian clothing back them but it was a bit more common in military uniforms.

[etsmith]

The green pants tin type is possibly from Ludlow, Vermont according to Langdonroad.com. Photographer may be Horatio N. Roberts, Ludlow, VT 1860's.

[BeanTown]

Its Anson, and Corey you can sell it to me if you agree with Jays opinion.

[aquarius31]

Very nice Joe especially the VT tintype.

Here's the one I picked up. It was a unique horizontal pose and I liked the fact that it was a quarter plate. Based on the frame and the photographer mark, my hope was that it was an ambrotype but it's not. I'm still very happy with it and I think it's pre 1870 although could be wrong.

[ramram]

George - It looks like it found its way into that case more recently considering that mat is from an 1850's daguerreotype. I'd agree that the image is most likely late 1860's based on their "uniforms". It does present very nice as a horizontal pose and the case just adds more to the presentation. Nice pick up.

Rob M

Originally Posted by aquarius31

Very nice Joe especially the VT tintype.

Here's the one I picked up. It was a unique horizontal pose and I liked the fact that it was a quarter plate. Based on the frame and the photographer mark, my hope was that it was an ambrotype but it's not. I'm still very happy with it and I think it's pre 1870 although could be wrong.

[aquarius31]

Originally Posted by ramram

George - It looks like it found its way into that case more recently considering that mat is from an 1850's daguerreotype. I'd agree that the image is most likely late 1860's based on their "uniforms". It does present very nice as a horizontal pose and the case just adds more to the presentation. Nice pick up.

Rob M

Thanks Rob! I carefully took it out of case and confirmed that it's a tintype. It has been in that case for a long time.

Anyone else pick up items from this auction?

[jbsports33]

This was an incredible auction to bid on and watch, some of the other items I bid on had been the bats – no wins after bidding and watching for two hours!
Thanks for pointing this auction out Alan – hope you had a good 4th!

Jimmy

[Shoeless Moe]

but I've got better news for you, it's Larry Fine

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Its Anson, and Corey you can sell it to me if you agree with Jays opinion.

Looking similar to someone doesn’t make you that person. I’ll stick with my opinion. I think the best you can say is that it might be a relative; it’s not Cap Anson.