Show us your "alleged" stolen nypl spaldings...."

[barrysloate]

Mr. Maguire- Here is the provenance I have:

In January, 2008 I auctioned a Crossley that was consigned to me by a woman in the midwest named Martha, who sold on ebay under the name mamabroker. I bring this up because she posted several times on the board and some may remember her. Her son had purchased a CdV album on ebay and this one was part of it. She tried selling it herself but pulled it when she had too many offers to close the auction. I spoke with her directly and she ultimately consigned it to me. I have no reason to doubt her story.

In March, 2005, I sold a Hammond and a Crossley in a fixed price sale. These were consigned by a very close friend who is practically a partner of mine. In the early 1990's he was putting together a cricket collection and had forgotten about these until he sat down in 2004 and rediscovered them. He recalls purchasing them for next to nothing, something like $15 each, at a photography show. I likewise have no reason to doubt this story based on our twenty five year friendship. While we don't know how the photo dealer got them, it's a little hard to imagine that someone would risk stealing them to sell them for a few dollars each. Back then nobody even knew their significance.

That's my story, and what I know about the three CdV's.

[canjond]

Barry - FYI I had forgotten you sold one of the Jordans (or 3). That being said, when I first observed Jordans on the list, I wasn't implying that yours were from the collection - sorry f it seemed as so. I thought that was an interesting thing to be on the list because I don't recall that many floating around so may be easier to identify.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[barrysloate]

Not a problem Jon.

[Freddie Maguire]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Mr. Maguire- Here is the provenance I have:

In January, 2008 I auctioned a Crossley that was consigned to me by a woman in the midwest named Martha...I have no reason to doubt her story.

In March, 2005, I sold a Hammond and a Crossley in a fixed price sale...

I appreciate you putting that up there Mr. Sloate. Work like this only improves al of our ability to nail down where the stolen items are.

It sure looks like there may be a mistake on the list. But it also look likes they have 5 Jordan's-they have an extra Sam Wright which is identified.

It makes you wonder when the Lifson description from the 2000 sale of the Harry Wright card says "the Harry Wright card offered in this lot was in fact the example saved by Harry Wright for his personal collection" where this personal collection came from. He says it "surfaced in California in 1998". This must have been some collection.

[barrysloate]

It does also seem to me that the listing is in error, since at least four cards are still in the Spalding Collection.

The Harry Wright CdV originated from a Wright family album auctioned by Butterfield and Butterfield, if memory serves. REA was the second person to auction it individually, but the first to recognize its significance. The first seller noted the ticket information on the back, but not the history behind it.