Volume one issue of a sporting newspaper...

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Jan. 24, 1857  A rather famous sporting newspaper, with a sporting-themed masthead, calling itself: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". This is a volume one issue.

Reports are headed: "The Turf" "Draught Of The Seine" "Our Chess Department" "Out Door Sports" "Fist... See More  

Calling for a very historic baseball convention...

PORTER SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Jan. 17, 1857  A rather famous sporting newspaper, with a sporting-themed masthead, calling itself: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". This is a volume one issue.

Near the back is an advertisement for a: "Convention of Base Ball Clubs" being called for on January 22, which would be the first convention ... See More  

Baseball before the Civil War.... Calling for an historic convention...

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Jan. 3, 1857  A rather famous sporting newspaper, with a sporting-themed masthead, calling itself: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage". This is a volume one issue.

Inside has most of a column taken up with: "Base Ball" being a very lengthy account of: "The Gotham Club", one of the more not... See More  

The first convention of clubs: the birth of organized baseball...

THE NEW YORK HERALD, January 23, 1857 



* Birth of organized baseball

* First convention of clubs



The back page has a report which could be considered the birth of organized baseball. And printed the day after the event happened!

The second column has an article headed: "Our National Sports" with subheads: "The Game of Base Ball--Convention of the Various Clubs Of the Ci... See More  

One of the earliest baseball illustrations to appear in any periodical...

PORTERS SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Dec. 27, 1856 



* Earliest of baseball diagrams

* Pre-American Civil War era



This issue of this once popular sporting journal features one of the earliest baseball illustrations to appear in a periodical.

This simple illustration, which is actually a 3 by 3 inch diagram, shows the position of the players, and is part of an article: "Base Ball... See More  

Pre-Civil War baseball...

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Nov. 22, 1856 



* Very early pre-Civil War baseball



As noted in the masthead: "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage", this is a volume 1 issue of a very early sporting publication.

Near the back of the issue is a report headed: "Base Ball" which is quite early for this sport. Additionally, a subhe... See More  

"Baseball And Its Pleasures"... Apache Indians...

... See More  

One of the best early baseball prints, the game made famous by Currier & Ives...

LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Aug. 26, 1865  The top of page 4 has one of the better baseball prints of the era, showing the action at the famous game played at Hoboken on August 3, 1865 between the Atlantics of Brooklyn and the Mutuals of New York.

The print, taking close to one-third of the page, is captioned: "Base Ball Match For The Championship Between The Atlantic Club Of Br... See More  

One of the earliest baseball illustrations to appear in any periodical...

PORTERS SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Dec. 27, 1856  This issue of this once popular sporting journal features one of the earliest baseball illustrations to appear in a periodical.

This simple illustration, which is actually a 3 by 3 inch diagram, shows the position of the players, and is part of an article: "Base Ball" "How They Play The Game In New England".

The diagr... See More  

Jeffries wins the heavyweight title... front page illustration

THE BETHLEHEM TIMES, Penn., June 10, 1899 



* James Jeffries wins heavyweight boxing title

* w/ illustration - vs. Robert Fitzsimmons



The top of page 3 has one column headings: "JEFFRIES IS CHAMPION" "Easily Defeats Fitzsimmons In The Great Battle" and more with illustration of Jeffries. Also round by round coverage.

Complete with 8 pages, light even toning, 2 larg... See More  

United States Post Office...

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, April 18, 1896  The ftpg. shows: "Letter Canceling Machines in the U.S. Post Office, New York City" with a related article as well. 

Page 3 has a report on the 1896 Olympic Games, the first held after being abolished 15 centuries ago. Various prints of: "Gas Machine for Industrial & Domestic Uses" and various other prints &... See More  

First printing of baseball rules and regulations proposed to the first baseball convention...

PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Feb. 28, 1857 



* Historic baseball periodical

* New fundamental rules

* "Baseball's Magna Carta"

* For Baseball Convention of 1857



An extremely significant issue on the history of baseball, as an inside page has almost an entire column taken up with: "Base Ball" "The Base Ball Convention And Their New Rules"... See More  

Portrait of baseball player James Maxwell...

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Sept. 1, 1866  Inside has a one column portrait of: "Mr. James Maxwell, of the Susquehanna B. B. Club, Wilkes Barre, Pa." The same page has an article on him: "Our Base-Ball Illustrations" which begins: "Number six of our portraits of prominent baseball players is that of Mr. James Maxwell, the noted catcher of the Susquehanna... See More  

Print of a baseball player...

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER, New York, Aug. 18, 1866  Inside has a nice one column print of baseball player: "G. A. Flagg, Cambridge B.B. Club, Cambridge, Mass." with a related article headed: "Our Base Ball Illustrations" .

The front page has a nice print captioned: "The Town of Heart's Content, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, the Terminus of the Atlanti... See More  

Check from Cooperstown, 1834...

This is a genuine check written on the "Otsego County Bank" of Cooperstown, New York dated 1834. Included is the amount in the lower left corner with a signature in the lower right. There is a nice engraving of an eagle with an olive branch in its beak.

An early financial item & great to have from this town famous as the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Measures 2 1/2 by 5 1/2 inc... See More  

Baseball champions...

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 16, 1885  The entire ftpg. shows: 'Vesuvius In Eruption'. The prime print would be the full page captioned: "Champion Baseball Players" showing portraits of twelve players from various baseball teams, including James O'Rourke, John Ward, Joseph Hornung, William Ewing, and others.

Among other prints in the issue are: "The Twelfth R... See More  

Baseball scenes... Texarkana...

LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER, New York, May 3, 1890  The full ftpg. is a nice cartoon: "Trying to Convince the President--A Sketch in the White House from Life".

Among prints inside: "May Day in Central Park" "KoKo-Ko-Ho, the Largest Canoe Ever Seen in New York Waters"; a full page with 11 prints of buildings: "Views in Texarkana, Arkansas and Texas&q... See More  

Baseball and cricket reports from 1856......

PORTERS SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, N.Y., Sept. 20, 1856  Inside this sporting newspaper is a detailed report: "Cricket" "The Great Match At Hoboken!!!" "The United States Victorious!!" "Canada Vs. United States".

But more intriguing is the report headed: "Base Ball" with gives details of a game between the Eagle team and the Empire team, including ... See More  

Reports of baseball games from during the Civil War...

WILKES' SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, July 5, 1862  Over one-third of page 4 has: "Base Ball" reports with details of five games and box scores for 3 of them. Uncommon to find much baseball reporting from during the Civil War.

Sixteen pages, 11 by 16 inches, some foxing and light damp staining, otherwise good.

One of the best baseball prints...

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, March 23, 1889



* Great baseball prints - illustrations



Note: this is just a portion of the issue, 8 pages but including the mentioned centerfold.

This terrific double page centerfold is captioned: "The American Baseball Players at Kennington Oval--Visit of the Prince of Wales". It includes some 19 scenes of various "plays" in basebal... See More  

The science behind a curve-ball in baseball...

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT, New York, Sept. 15, 1883  The title is a bit of a misnomer as this was actually a separate, stand-alone publication, not a supplement to the regular title.

Inside has a fascinating article headed: "Base Ball Science" which begins: "We are in receipt of several communications relative to the question o whether a projectile can be thrown so as to ... See More  

Portrait of an early baseball player...

LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Sept. 29, 1866 Page 4 has a 3 by 2 inch portrait of: "Edward Beadle, Gotham B. B. Club Of New York." Included is a report headed: "Our Base Ball Illustrations" that compares the "new school" of ball players to the "old boys" and then describes the talent and skills of Beadle, a first baseman for the Gothams.

There is also... See More  

Horseracing... Famed baseball player 'Cap' Anson...

LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Sept. 19, 1891  The full front page is a great horse racing print:  "The End Of The Racing Season--A False Start For The Mile Race."  

Other prints include a full pg: "Devastating Prairie Fires i Dakota..."; a print of a famous baseball player: "Adrian C. Anson, Captain of the Chicago Base-Ball Club" with a related a... See More  

Baseball players...

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 27, 1888 



* 19th century baseball players

* Charles Comiskey & Arie Latham

* St. Louis Browns (Cardinals)



Perhaps the most desired print would be the two quarter-page portraits of: "Two Popular Players of the St. Louis Baseball Team" being "Charles Comiskey" and "W. A. Latham." There is a related article on a fo... See More  

Baseball... Great view of Salt Lake City... The redwood forest...

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 30, 1886  A full page has 5 prints of: "Puffin-Catching Off the Irish Coast"; small print of Commodore Gherardi, U.S.N."; halfpg: "The Slater Memorial Building at Norwich, Connecticut"; one-quarter page cartoonish print: "Baseball at Crowtown".

The doublepage centerfold is a very nice print: "Felling the Redwood T... See More