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2004 NATIONAL COVERAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

And it just kept coming. As mentioned, my sensory perception was on overload trying to take in the whole Kaniut Nash Orban booth. The next day when I returned, I found more items I hadn’t noticed the previous day…here we go with some more! First up for round two, The Kanashnuits had two very nice, and early football helmets. The first was a circa 1905 beehive flat top in pretty good shape, priced at $1,700.00 . The other, was a circa 1900 classic dog-ear style, offered at $750.00 . Both in nice shape. Any serious football helmet collection should have examples of these two classic styles. These early helmets aren’t getting any easier to find, and the prices aren’t going down! see photos of both below

Next was about the nicest Red Grange doll I ever expect to see, minty, $1,700.00 . Next was an advertising poster for the November issue of Ainslee’s Magazine showing a girl football player, about 14” wide by 22” tall, $825.00  Ainslee’s Magazine was launched in 1898, and was one of the top, ten-cent magazines of its era. At the turn of the 19th century, the mainstream magazines like Scribner’s, Harpers, Outing, and Lippencott’s, usually featured a football scene on their November covers, seems to have been almost a tradition. Next was a rich and intriguing chromolithograph print of a football game by the English artist L.Smyth, 26 ½” wide by 18 3/8” tall, $525.00 . This print was originally produced in England and is of an English Rugby game. Later it was imported to America and the Knapp Lithographic firm of New York added an American flag. Next was a nice, framed, c1890’s Chromolithograph print of a University of Pennsylvania football game, 21 ¾” wide by 13 ½” tall, $495.00 . This was a newspaper art supplement print. Newspapers gave them out as promotional advertising. Next was a, Case vs. Carrol football broadside game poster, 17” wide by 23” tall, $650.00 P117. Both Ohio colleges, Case Western Reserve, and John Carroll Medical School, excellent striking color, belonged to Orban. see photo below

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Football broadside poster 17” wide by 23” tall, $650.00  Offered by John Orban

Next, a circa 1910 framed water color painting of a football kicker, signed by McGrath, nice art work, you don’t see much early, original football art. 16 7/8” wide by 19 3/8” tall, $525.00 . Next, a circa 1880-1890 Spalding ring bat, 33” long, $850.00 P119 & P120 close in photo of label, good example, nice condition, getting harder to find! Last mention for the power booth, a nice pair of 5 lb. Indian clubs. 24” tall, $375.00 . John Orban explained they were an exceptional pair, very rare to find them with engraved grips.

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c1910 violin with oil painting of a baseball scene, expensive,  offered by Bob McCann

Next booth ready for take off was that of Bob McCann of Gilberstville, Pa. First up was an item you couldn’t help notice, an exceptional c1910 oil painting of a baseball scene, on the side of a violin case, price: expensive see above . Next Bob had a small but nice, c1910 baseball board game, by Pan American Toy Company of Kansas City, great illustration, about as nice as a Mcloughlin, 9 3/8” wide by 9 ¼” tall, $600.00 . Next, was a c1930, rare and unusual 12-count tennis ball can, for Pennsylvania tennis balls. 7 1/8” tall by 6 5/8” wide, $1,100.00 P30. Next Bob had an early circa 1885 tennis racquet, by D.W. Granbery & Co. of New York. 26 3/8”, $700.00 . pretty rare to see the early ones that are flat across the top. Next, The best baseball bat of the show, a huge 40”, Wright and Ditson, great condition, guesstimate c1875-80, rings in the center, with the archaic squared barrel/flat end. What a bat, one of the best I’ve seen, and nicest I’ve seen in a long time, the condition was incredible, or I should say “striking” $3,400.00 see photos below  Gossip: The next day as I was walking past the Leland’s booth, I spotted it nonchalantly leaning against the rear of their backdrop. Josh said he got the violin case too! 

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c1875-80, 40 inch Wright and Ditson squared barrel ring bat,  $3,400.00 , offered by Bob McCann

Next McCann piece was a turn of the century football nose guard, with a very old tag that said: Nose Guard, PRINCETON & WESLYN GAME AT PRINCETON 1905, Bob said it had been deaccessioned from a museum. $600.00 . Next up from McCann, a great, color 1906 University of Pennsylvania paper football booklet, 6 ¾” wide by 10 ½” tall, $750.00 . Next from Bob, was one of the best pieces at the show. A c1880’s chromolithographed box that held a dozen baseballs from Monarch Sporting Goods Company of New York, outstanding condition, and outstanding label on the front, 5 ½” tall by 5 ¼” wide by 8 3/8” deep, $2,500.00 . Bob also had a cool little trophy, c1890’s with two period figural bats attached to the front, 6 ½” tall by 8 ½” wide, $1,100.00. Had a lot of wear to the silver plate finish, but no dents, lots of character.

Next, was the booth of Mike Sanders of Memphis. Mike had a great 1933 Ohio college sweater, very striking with the big white “O” on rich deep red, $400.00 . He also had quite a bit of vintage equipment unceremoniously spread out on the floor of his booth. As I got there it looked like Bob McCann was in the process of scoring some good buys, as he already had his hands full. I managed to get a photo of one 30’s leather helmet that was in such nice condition, I had to ask if it was a reproduction. It was prominently marked X-AC on the front, $700.00 . 

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1916 Bergdoll Brewing poster with Rube Waddell 31 1/4"X 27 1/2" $17,500.00, offered by Tic and Tic

Next we visit the booth of Terry Knouse of Tic and Tic from Wapwallopen, Pa. Terry had an unusual and quite nice c1913 embossed and die cut advertising calendar, showing generic baseball players. Framed, it measured 23” wide by 31” tall, $3,500.00 . Note: sold on Saturday. Next Terry had an outstanding circa 1916 framed advertising poster produced by the Louis Bergdoll Brewing Company of Philadelphia. The poster featured an incredible large illustration of Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell, flanked by diamond shaped schedules of the 1916 season, for both the Philadelphia Nationals and Philadelphia Athletics. This was one of the most advanced pieces at the show, and most impressive. 31 ¼” wide by 27 ½” tall, $17,500.00 . [sold on Saturday]. Next was another power piece, a framed c1880’s advertising poster for Climax Red Tin Plug Tobacco, The poster was printed in a sepia type color, which had a composite of portraits of baseball’s pioneers, slight restoration upper right, had original tobacco tin to go with it, 34” wide by 29” tall, $27,000.00 . Next up, Terry had what he referred to as an imperial cabinet team photo, which he explained is extremely rare, of the 1888 Indianapolis Baseball Club, framed 26 ½” wide by 21 ½ “ tall, $8,500.00 . Terry elaborated that the Indianapolis BBC had absorbed the remains of the St Louis Whites, and Chicago Maroons. Terry is not your typical baseball card dealer, and has much knowledge of archaic baseball history. Next Terry had a very nice circa 1896 poster for Scribner’s Magazine, illustrated with a discus thrower, advertising coverage of the Olympic games in Greece. The 1896 Olympics was the first modern Olympics to take place since an estimated 426 A.D., 19 ½” tall by 14” wide, $1,000.00 . Next was one of the nicest things at the show, a 19th century chromolithographed paper fan with a great illustration of John Ward, $10,000.00 see below . Almost unbelievable condition. We’re talking about some very advanced material! 

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19th century paper fan with  John Ward, $10,000.00 Offered by Tic and Tic

This next item was for me personally, the most striking piece I saw at the convention. You could walk past this item all day and not even notice it. Terry however was kind enough to point it out. I was tired and felt I’d seen enough of his stock, and was starting to leave his booth when directed me to “take a look at that”. I thought, oh no, I have to be polite and look at another piece. The item I refer to is an 1862 baseball team photo of Norwich University, a Military school in Vermont which still exists today with a website: www.norwich.edu . The first glance at it commands your respect, just out of sheer age. We’re not just talking 1880’s baseball. The second uniformed ball payer in the first row, with a giant mustache was George Dewey 1837-1917, later to become Admiral George Dewey, one of our country’s most esteemed Naval Officers. Talk about ancient!

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