Uncatalogued H.H. Bregstone postcard of pitcher Barney Pelty, featuring a unique pose.  The Bregstone postcard issue contains photographic images of members of the St. Louis Browns and Cardinals, and is rare enough that poses and variations remain as of yet undiscovered.  Catalogued as PC743, they are considered among the most rare postcards featuring individual players from multiple teams.  

The card was one of a significant find of Bregstone postcards we received on consignment from the family of former Browns pitcher Barney Pelty.  This is one of several cards of Pelty in the group (we submitted seven, PSA graded six, three - included this ungraded example - are included in this auction).  We are aware of several subjects in the Bregstone issue that are featured in multiple poses - this one features Pelty against a plain background, wearing his uniform and overcoat.  

What makes this postcard unique and extremely interesting is the writing on the back.  Addressed to Mrs. Susan Warsing of Farmington, Missouri, the unmailed postcard includes a note from Pelty's wife, Eva.  Born Eva Warsing, she met Pelty during his time with the Blees Military Academy in Macon, MO between 1899 and 1900.  The note reads as follows:

Thought would send you a postal of Barney but don't think it very good of him.  Hope you are all well.  Eva

Could it be that Pelty has two different poses in the Bregstone postcard issue because his wife didn't like the first photo?  It is as plausible as any other explanation, we suppose.  Either way, it is interesting to know a bit about what a player's spouse thought of his own card.

We submitted the card to PSA and, ostensibly because the pose is uncatalogued, they returned it ungraded.  Unfortunately since there is no Standard Catalog any longer, we are unsure of how or where to get the card catalogued.  As such, we are offering it here ungraded, clearly an example of a Bregstone Postcard featuring Barney Pelty, with his wife's writing on the reverse, consigned directly from Pelty's estate, yet somehow ungradable.  Condition is FAIR with some foxing and soiling, as well as some light creasing and, of course, the aforementioned writing.  The only known example of this pose.