Lot # 3076: Circa 1906 Louisville Slugger Advertising Envelope with Nap Lajoie and Honus Wagner

Exceedingly rare J. F. Hillerich & Son company mailing envelope, dating from 1906, featuring full images of Honus Wagner and Napoleon Lajoie. This is the only example of this particular promotional envelope we have ever seen or heard of, and it may the lone survivor. What makes it all the more significant is that the envelope was sent by the company to Honus Wagner. The typed address reads "John H. Wagner, Esq., - c/o Pittsburg Ball Club - Pittsburg, Pa." (At the time, esquire was an unofficial title of respect and was not specifically reserved for lawyers.) The photo to the left pictures both Wagner and Lajoie in uniform shaking hands, with each holding a "Louisville Slugger" bat in his hand. The accompanying text reads "The World's Greatest Sluggers Made Their Reputations With The Louisville Slugger Bat." The facsimile signature of each player is stamped below his respective image. On September 1, 1905, Honus Wagner signed an endorsement contract with J.. F. Hillerich & Son, which gave the company the right to use his facsimile signature on its line of bats. In doing so, it is believed that Wagner became the first baseball player to sign such an agreement and also one of the first athletes to endorse a specific production. A few days later, on September 12, 1905, Lajoie also signed an identical contract with J. F. Hillerich & Son, giving the company the endorsement of the two biggest stars in each league. The company obviously wasted little time in promoting those endorsements, as this particular envelope is postmarked "Apr. 23 1906" on the front. A second postmark on the reverse indicates that it was delivered on April 24, 1906. The envelope (6.5 x 3.5 inches) displays moderate handling wear, including light toning, minor soiling, and a few creases along the left border. In Good condition overall. This piece originates directly from Wagner's granddaughter, Leslie Blair, and is accompanied by a signed letter from her.