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1866 Washington Nationals & Brooklyn Excelsiors Albumen Cabinet Photograph
1866 Brooklyn Excelsior- Washington Nationals Cabinet Photograph with Henry Chadwick- On September 18, 1866 the Brooklyn Excelsiors traveled to Washington, D.C. to play a match game with the Nationals before a crowd of 7000. Sportswriting legend Henry Chadwick was in attendance, almost certainly in an official capacity. Even President Andrew Johnson was present for a brief time. The Excelsiors won the contest 33-28, one of only five losses for a National club that finished the season 10-5. This wonderful photograph was taken that day, with Chadwick prominently seated in the center. It has never before been seen in the hobby, and pictures both ballclubs and several dignitaries, as well as spectators visible in the background. The verso features hand written lineups of both teams, as well as the date of September 18. Oddly, the 1866 was crossed out and 1870 written over it. It is quite possible that this image was shot as a display photograph, then later reshot to cabinet size, perhaps in 1870 (there are no known baseball cabinets prior to 1869). It exhibits rich sepia tones but there is some lack of clarity. Nevertheless, it is exciting to see a photograph of two teams that are virtually unknown in any vintage baseball collection, as well as the presence of a luminary such as Chadwick. An extremely important early image, with a pinhole at each edge and some light creasing.
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1865 First Baseball Cigar Label
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