Extraordinary advertising trade card featuring a studio photograph of the Chicago White Stockings of 1870, one of the most widely-recognized teams of the era. Assembled by Chicago businessmen in response to the dominant Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, the first player they signed was manager and infielder Jimmy Wood, the first professional baseball player from Canada. Wood is pictured dead center in the photo, surrounded by his teammates, utilityman Kearl, shortstop Ed Duffy, outfielder Fred Tracy, utilityman Charlie Hodes, right fielder Clipper Flynn, center fielder Eddie Cuthbert, pitcher Ed Pinkham, first baseman Michael McAtee, and catcher Marshall King. Perhaps most notable, however, is the presence of third baseman,  "Long Levi" Meyerle. Meyerle, who received his nickname due to his 6'1" frame, was one of the first Jewish players in professional baseball and holds the record for the highest batting average in any major league, with a .492 with the 1871 Philadelphia Athletics (Meyerle's fielding average that season was just .154 higher than his batting average, at .646). He won the batting title in 1874 as well, but his promising career was cut short by an ankle injury.

The 3.875" x 2.375" card has been trimmed on all four borders (a common practice for the era), but remains extremely attractive, the photo clean and unblemished with outstanding detail. Pencil notations within the left and right borders identify the season. The reverse contains advertising messages presented in a combination of letters, numbers and images (called a "rebus"), with a secondary advertising message labeled over the original printing, featuring an advertising message for E. Lovejoy's Chicago stereoscope company. Regardless of the trim, pencil notations or added label on the reverse, the card presents in EX/MT condition.

After the 1870 season the team would become one of the charter members of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the game's first professional league, with many of its members continuing on with the team. An extraordinary example featuring an important team, issued just one year after the Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Reds card often considered by collectors to be the earliest of all baseball cards. An extraordinary card, a recent discovery that is likely the finest known example, featuring one of the game's early Jewish stars, the first Canadian professional ballplayer, and an exceptional early team.