Lot # 113: Scarce, Uncut 1898 Baltimore American National Game Base Ball Supplement

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 16 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer, 2024 Premier Auction",
which ran from 9/12/2024 4:00 AM to
9/28/2024 9:00 PM



This is a fascinating piece.  A complete full-color lithograph as issued with the Baltimore American newspaper on May 22, 1898, an intricately-designed ballpark with individual players that were meant to be carefully cut out, the pieces carefully cut and folded into a three-dimensional baseball scene, complete with players and scoreboard. The result would be a diorama picturing a baseball game in progress, with players on the field, at bat, and even on the bench. Though the players are not named on their die-cut figures, they batting team appears to be intended to have been the Baltimore Orioles, with the fielding team appears to all have their backs to the viewer, wearing generic - or at least unidentifiable - uniforms.

While individual die cuts from the supplement (there are sixteen, including the stadium) are often found, the complete, uncut supplements are seldom seen.  Measuring approximately 16 1/2" x 10", the piece is beautifully lithographed onto heavier paper. This example presents amazingly well, with wear at the corners (including a pronounced corner clip at the bottom right), some very slight staining at the top left edge, and a few tiny edge tears here and there. The display value of the piece is tremendous, a beautiful and elaborately-designed piece intended to serve as a youngster's three-dimensional scene of baseball game play.

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