Attractive artifact produced by Alexander Cartwright's company, a book and stationery store he opened with his brother Alfred after the bank where he worked burned down in the 1840s.  The "Father of Baseball" was playing ball at this time as well, forming the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in September of 1845. Measuring 5 3/4" x 2 3/4", the check has been used (not by Cartwright), dated 1850. Cartwright's name and store address is found in small type at the bottom left. A small piece of paper has been torn away at the bottom-right corner, with some minor folds, evidence of use and likely scrapbook mounting visible here and there on both front and back.