This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
The origin of this indelibly rare 2" x 2" photograph is a compelling mystery. It shows an unidentified group of ballplayers dating back to the mid-1800s, when the game filtered through the big cities and the prairie by word of mouth and teams often appeared with the morning sun. Because it is one of the earliest recorded photographic images of baseball, historians and collectors of original baseball mementos will reach for the magnifying glass to look for clues. Intriguingly, there are only 7 players. The players wear star-and-stripe shirts and caps but they also wear slacks and shoes, which may not qualify as "official" uniforms, pre-dating 1849, when the first uniforms were recorded. The photo is in excellent to near-mint condition and is mounted in an 11" x 11" frame.