Lot # 2227: 1865 to 1888 Harper's Weekly Baseball Collection (12) Including 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings

During the 19th century, most baseball fans were acquainted with the game's top stars and clubs by the wonderful woodcut illustrations appearing in various illustrated newspapers of the day, one of the most prominent of which was Harper's Weekly. Today, those illustrations are highly prized by collectors, both for their aesthetic appeal, and for the fact that they are much more affordable than actual photographs from the period. As such, woodcut illustrations have always represented perhaps the finest value of all 19th century baseball items. Offered is a sizable collection of 12 different Harper's Weekly baseball woodcuts spanning the years 1865 to 1888. This collection consists of the following: 1) 11/18/65 (match game between the Philadelphia Athletics and Brooklyn Atlantics); 2) 11/25/65 (portrait images of the Brooklyn Atlantics including Dicky Pearce); 3) 10/26/67 (illustration of the Union Base Ball Club of Morrisania, N.Y.); 4) 7/3/69 (illustration of the 1869 Red Stockings, baseball's first all-professional team); 5) 7/24/69 (presentation of a champion bat to the Red Stockings); 6) 7/25/74 (individual images of the Philadelphia Athletics); 7) 9/12/74 (illustration of the Maple Leaf Base Ball Club of Canada); 8) 5/14/81 (illustration of the Princeton College Base Ball Nine); 9) 8/5/82 (illustration of the Metropolitan Nine); 10) 9/30/82 (illustration of the Providence Base Ball Club); 11) 10/13/83 (illustration of the Boston Base Ball Club); and 12) 10/20/88 (illustrations of Tim Keefe and Buck Ewing). The woodcut illustrations display normal wear commensurate with their age and fragile nature, including minor edge tears/chipping. A few have also been slightly trimmed. They range in grade from Pr to Good, averaging Fair. Pages average 11 x 15.5 inches. Total: 12 woodcuts. The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot.