Enormous Jim Rowe Photographic Negative Collection (15,000+)

Auction: Summer Classic 2022

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Vintage Sports Photographs

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Enormous Jim Rowe Photographic Negative Collection (15,000+)

Offered is a massive collection of 15,000+ negatives that photographer and hobby pioneer Jim Rowe used for the production of hisphotographs and photographic postcards, mostly in theform of 35mm. Thesubject matter is primarily baseball, his bread and butter; if someone played Major League baseball, whether in the 1870s or 1970s, you will probably findhim in this assemblage. Nearly all are black-and-white copy negatives (many made from books and publications) produced from the 1960sthrough the 1980s, but a few color negatives are represented. You could start your own business empire with this collection, or just spend years enjoying it! Rowe's life work is represented here, and the amount of hard work it took to amass this collection isunimaginable. The majority are medium-frame negatives (2.5x2.5") and the collection is in Excellent condition overall. Most players are represented more than once, often in different poses. The majority of photos picture individual players, but team and stadium images, as well as  group shots, are also included. Although his name is not familiar to most modern collectors, to those who began collecting in the 1960s and 1970s, Jim Rowe was the man to see if you needed a photograph of a player. It didn't matter in what era the player was from, if he wore a Major League uniform, chances were pretty good that Rowe could provide you with a photograph. Rowe had a brisk business of selling photos and real-photo postcards for over two decades, all of which were produced from his enormous collection of photographic negatives. Rowe was from Chicago and worked with noted photographer George Brace. After Brace retired, Rowe obtained thousands of his original negatives, which he merged into his own personal collection, forming what had to be the largest such private collection ever assembled. It wasn't just collectors who purchased Rowe's postcards. He was also the go-to source for nearly all retired players who needed photos of themselves to honor the many autograph requests made by fans. In 2006 Lelands was honored to have been chosen to sell Rowe's entire collection, which included thousands of signed photos, developed prints, negatives, and correspondence with ballplayers. This collection of negatives, albeit smaller in number than the original offering, was one of the lots featured in our 2006  auction and it has been consigned directly by the purchaser in that sale. Please note: the size and/or weight of this lot willnecessitate an increased shipping charge (over five full file boxes).