Lot # 623: C. 1900 Billiards Tobacco Tin w/African-American Illustrations

Starting Bid: $500.00

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Time Left: Auction closed


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Item was in Auction "Spring, 2015 Premier Catalog Auction",
which ran from 3/3/2015 5:00 AM to
3/29/2015 10:05 AM



Occasionally when hosting an auction that deals with pre-WWII memorabilia we invariably are tasked with dealing with issues of race. Mostly we feel those issues are positive as they typically revolve around baseball which was ahead of the country in its acceptance of African-American players and our contemporary recognition of those pre-1947 players who were unable to play in the Major Leagues. Writing favorably about such players as Jose Mendez whose Billiken card is featured in this auction is always enlightening and fun and we relish the enthusiasm with which collectors chase those historical figures. Occastionally however we're presented with a piece that is difficult to present in a positive light but still maintains historical significance in the bigger picture. Such is the case with this colorful tobacco tin which features illustrations of African-Americans around a pool table. Intended to be humorous this 7 1/2" x 4" x 4 1/2" tin strikes us as anything but portraying the seven African-American pool players as clowns hitting each other in the eyes with stray billiard balls spilling alcohol bottles knocking into the chandelier and ultimately fighting. The theme of African-Americans as clownish incompetents is one frequently found in 19th Century advertising and popular art one that makes us neither proud nor makes us laugh. Still the artwork is an undeniable piece of 19th and early 20th Century Americana as evidenced by the colorful and elaborate artwork on this well-constructed tin. Remaining in excellent condition the tin is still functional and displays extraordinarily well. And while we are proud to offer a photograph of the supporters of the 14th Amendment in this auction and equally proud to offer cards of the great Cuban and Negro League players who are finally being accepted into the Baseball Hall of Fame our company deals with American History and this item is undeniably a piece of that history.

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