Anchored by future Basketball Hall of Fame center, George Mikan, the 1947-48 Minneapolis Lakers were the very first iteration of the now-historic franchise that currently resides in Los Angeles. Competing in the National Basketball League (NBL) the team also featured future hall of famer Jim Pollard, and the pair helped guide the Lakers to a 43-17 overall record and the 1948 NBL Championship. By August, 1949 the NBL and their rival league, the BAA merged to form what is now known as the National Basketball Association (NBA), with Mikan's Lakers capturing league titles following five of their first six NBA seasons, effectively forming the league's earliest truly dynastic organization.

A fresh-to-the-hobby example, hailing directly from the collection of former official NBA historian Bill Himmelman (1995-02), the presented 8" x 10" original Type 1 photo has been signed by nine members of the 1947-48 Lakers, including (L to R): 1) Herm Schaefer 2) Don Carlson 3) Paul Napolitano 4) Tony Jaros 5) Don Smith 6) Johnny Jorgensen 7) Jack Dean 8) Jim Pollard 9) George Mikan.

An instantly recognizable image of the earliest Lakers team, reproductions of this very example can be found used throughout numerous websites online related to the rich history of the franchise. Photo displays gently rounded corners and a small bit of emulsion loss along the left edge by Herm Schaefer's waist. Central image remains crisp with players illuminated by flash photography in front of a curtained backdrop while on-court. A credit stamp from Newburg Studio in Minneapolis appears at center of verso, identifying them as the issuing service. Some mild toning surrounds the credit stamping, along with small handwritten notations and an unobtrusive red and white paper decal along the bottom. Authenticated and encapsulated as a Type 1 photo by PSA/DNA.