Lot # 85: 1889 G. Waldon Smith Cabinet Dick Johnston PSA EX-MT 6 (MK) - Ex-Hardy Richardson Estate

Graded EX-MT 6 (MK). Striking professional studio portrait cabinet of Boston Beaneaters outfielder Dick Johnston, circa 1889. Manufactured by G. Waldon Smith Studios of Boston, Massachusetts, as noted in print along the base of the mount. Waldon Smith was one of the most prominent Boston-area photographers specializing in baseball subjects during the 1880s and early 1890s. Johnston is pictured in uniform as he gazes away from the camera. Johnston played in the American Association, the National League, and the one-year Players' League during his eight-year career (1884-1891). His longest tenure was with the National League Boston Beaneaters from 1885 to 1889. He finished his career with a .251 average, 33 home runs, and 386 RBI. This particular cabinet comes with the unique provenance of originating directly from the personal collection of Hardy Richardson (which appeared at public auction in 2020), who was a member of the Boston Beaneaters in 1889. (This is one of five cabinets from the Richardson estate featured in this auction.) The cabinet (4.25 x 6.5 inches) is bright, fresh, and impeccably clean, with a crisp image. The mount is virtually flawless, with very light touches of wear visible at the corners. The handwritten identification "Johnson - S.S." appears in pencil along the top of the reverse.