Lot # 2459: Nineteenth Century Lemon Peel Ball

Nineteenth-century lemon peel ball, so named because its stitch pattern mimics the cuts used to peel a lemon. This ball features the classic lemon-peel design and is constructed of a single piece of leather, with the stitches meeting together at a single point along the top. Although this ball was constructed during the earliest days of our national pastime, it might well have been used to play any number of ball and/or bat games, including but not exclusively limited to baseball, rounders, and "one o' cat." This ball, which appears to be handmade, weighs 4 ounces and measures approximately 10 inches in circumference. The ball displays moderate wear with surface crazing and abrasions throughout. The stitching is mostly tight and intact. Good condition overall.