1889 Print Help - "Opening Game of the Boston Base-ball Club"

[aquarius31]

Thanks Barry. I too was convinced that it was a reprint until I saw it in person. It looks to be on older paper and under high magnification looks similar to the T206s with irregular sized dots and 0 evidence of multicolor dot pattern.

[barrysloate]

It could be a hand colored original, but I can't tell from a scan.

[benjulmag]

I have never seen an original color-version of this print. I agree with Barry. My guess is that it is an old reprint, probably made by photographing the original and then adding color. Given that an original dates to the late 1880's, a repro could have been done well over 100 years ago and therefore would look as old as an original.

My experience has been that in all instances versions of prints that vary in size from the known originals are always repros.

[Bicem]

Printing quality looks like a reprint from the scans posted, especially the close-up portraits pic.

[Robert_Lifson]

These color prints are definitely post-1900. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one but I do remember trying to figure out what this was decades ago. My recollection is that I found it was actually part of a calendar devoted to sport that was very well made, and included this illustration (which of course was created by using a black-and-white 1889 print as inspiration). I don’t remember the year, but I think it dates from the late 1920s. I remember the first time I saw this color baseball print (about 30 years ago), it was also framed, and when I opened the frame to check the back it had the golfing scene on the reverse.

[barrysloate]

Rob- I believe I've also seen a calendar with the Currier & Ives baseball print. Does that ring a bell?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by aquarius31

Thanks Barry. I too was convinced that it was a reprint until I saw it in person. It looks to be on older paper and under high magnification looks similar to the T206s with irregular sized dots and 0 evidence of multicolor dot pattern.

Key is the fact that when magnified it looks like the same litho process used in T206's. As you've already guessed, if that's true, then it's not a photo of an original, and it's certainly not hand-colored.

[Robert_Lifson]

Hi Barry! I can’t recall if I’ve seen the Currier & Ives baseball print in a calendar but over the years I’ve seen many types of reproductions and some of them have a lot of age to them. The Currier print was issued in 1866 and it seems they’ve been producing reprints of various types ever since. I’m sure there’s a calendar among them somewhere! This 1866 CDV featuring the Currier & Ives print is the earliest use of the image, is a favorite of mine, and was an exciting item to document:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...n/2008/19.html

(Looking at the auction description, I am glad to see I did not forget to throw “the hat in the ring” for this CDV being the earliest baseball card known to exist. There’s a lot to this card!)


Sincerely,


Rob L

[barrysloate]

Hi Rob- I remember that CdV well, it was very unusual. It reminds me a little of daguerreotypes of old paintings- really an image of another image.