Exceptional 1897 letter on ornate "When Clothing Store" letterhead written to Edwin Boyle by J.T. Brush signed elaborately by Brush. Then-president of the Cincinnati Reds Brush writes to catcher Eddie Boyle to explain that when the catcher was released by Pittsburgh the Reds exercised the team's right to claim Young for the team but since Boyle elected not to accompany the club to New Orleans the best Brush could offer would be a Western league contract at $180 per month. According the Baseball-reference.com Boyle did latch on with the Minneapolis Millers of the Western League for the 1897 season batting .231 in 333 at bats for what would be his final season of pro baseball. The letter and accompanying envelope have clearly been subjected to condition issues having been repaired with clear tape that is quite visible on both. Further and more importantly the letter and envelope were affixed to a foamcore backing for framing purposes where they currently remain adhered. Professional restoration could certainly remove the paper and even repair the tears but even "as is " this is an exceptional document of the early business of baseball from one of the game's important early names.