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Important 1855-1860 Boston Base Ball Salt Print Photograph
One of the most important baseball photo finds in years. We present here this fabulous image of the three members of the Bowdoin Base Ball Club, the first organized major team in the city of Boston. One of its leaders, John Lowell, we believe to be in the middle of the three posed players, though he is later photographed without a moustache. As you may remember, John Lowell was the man who encouraged the creation of teams in Boston and New England to play base ball by the New York Rules, and thus began the Lowell Base Ball Club, founded in March 18, 1861. No founding date is known for the Bowdoin, but it is supposed that they received their name not because of the New England college by the same name, but because the organization’s clubhouse was on Bowdoin Street in Boston, as the Atlantics were from Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The photo could date from as early as 1855, especially if it is a salt print, but is likely from around the year 1860. The photo is definitely pre-Civil War, and is either an early albumen print or a salt print (although upon first glance it has the appearance of a salt print). The Bowdoin played by Massachusetts or New England rules, and likely used the Boston Commons for many of their contests. Some of their players, including Lowell, moved over to other teams like the Tri-Mountains or Lowell’s of Boston, but the Bowdoin never did adopt the NY rules, and faded away during the Civil War years. But they were the founding baseball club of the city of Boston, established the ball playing community in Boston, and set up the future for the sport for decades to come. The photo itself measures 7x5.25” and is housed in its original cardboard mount measuring 9x7” overall. The image itself displays superior contrast, is undated, and is especially striking with their “B.B.B.C.” (Bowdoin Base Ball Club) belts ever present. It would grade at least excellent and is in its original uncleaned condition. The mount has browning and a small water stain on the left side. On the verso is some pencil writing including the name of the original owner, Mrs. Rose Parkes, and the embossed (reversed) photographer’s cartouche reads, “Heard & Moseley Photographers, 10 Tremont Row, Boston.” Simply smashing.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
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1865 First Baseball Cigar Label
19th Century Baseball Tintypes (2)
The American National Game of Baseball Vintage Print (18x24”)
19th Century Lemon Peel Baseball
1865 First Baseball Cigar Label
19th Century Baseball Tintypes (2)
The American National Game of Baseball Vintage Print (18x24”)