This
should more aptly be under Carlton's "Latest One That
Got Away". I found this 1907 oil painting of James J.
Corbett at the last minute. I had received the inaugural
Legendary Auctions catalog about a week before it closed.
However I'd been so tied up with my new Sports Antique of
the Week feature that I never had time to look thru it.
Although I had done a cursory of the auction on-line, I
missed this painting. On April
30, 2009 I
was in a restaurant thumbing thru the catalog as I ate
when I came across itabout
1:00PM the first day of the auction. It got my attention
enough that I scrambled to the front of the catalog to see
when the close date was. To my surprise it was closing
that day. I called right there on the spot and asked
what lot they were on. The guy explained it wasn't a live
floor auction and the painting wouldn't close until late
that night....he said the latest bid was $750.00, and so I
hit it at $800.00 and immediately got out bid by a left
ceiling bid. I hit it again at $900 and to my surprise was
top bidder....that night I had to hit it again at
$1,300.00. But got shot down later....that's where I
folded. With bidders premium it sold for $1,920.00.
I
have no regrets, it just didn't hit the gotta have it
level for me to keep chasing it. However I will say any
good boxing painting from that early is very rare,
they hardly exist. Much less one of a world champion. I've
never seen one before. And the quality is formidable...enlarge
it and look at the face and hair....that's a heck of a
painting! Plus it has a period/likely original frame.
There is no mention of an artist signature in the catalog;
but not having a signature can be overlooked if the work
is of exceptional quality, and this painting would
qualify.
Watch
1894 footage of James
Corbett
in exhibition with Peter Courtney
James
Corbett won the World Heavyweight Championship
from John L. Sullivan Sept. 7, 1892 in New
Orleans Louisiana. The bout was also historical
for being the first World Championship fought
under Marquess of Queensberry Rules,
and for being the first time boxing gloves were
worn.
James
J. Corbett
nickname
Gentleman
Jim
Birth
Name: James John Corbett
Born:
Sept 1, 1866 Died: Feb. 18, 1933 Nationality: American
Height:
6′ 1″ Division: Heavyweight Birthplace: San Francisco, CA Hometown: San Francisco, California
Age
at Death: 66
Record:
Won 16 (KO 4)
lLost 4 (KO 3)
Draws 3
Rounds boxed 261
Found
using
SportsAntiques.com's
eBayiSearch
click
photos
19th
century CHYP - Columbia Harvard Yale Princeton
multi-sport
tobacco tin - Football, Baseball, Rowing, Tennis. offered on
eBay, ends 6/24/07 CLICK
HERE
CLOSED
- SOLD FOR $97.00
Found
using
SportsAntiques.com's
eBayiSearch
IMPORTANT
c1920 OIL PAINTING OF A BASKETBALL GAME IN PROGRESS
This
is the greatest basketball painting I've ever seen. I've not even
heard of anything like it, so it may be the world's greatest. The
colors, the lighting, the size, the realism of the environment, are
what galvanize it.
The back
says it all regarding it's age, if you click the photo on the left.
I believe the elevated bleachers are typical of Y.M.C.A's in
the eastern United States. Interestingly, there were only three
bidders...my piddly $1,800.00, plus two floor bidders, one for
$3,500.00 and the $4,250.00. This is a classic example of greatness
I like to bring you on this site. -Carlton
I
was the under-bidder on this Yale baseball pitcher at $888.88,
but got sniped. I have a mug with the same illustration, so I
believe it originally came as a set with probably 6 or so
cups. The seller advised in the listing there was no makers
mark, however my mug is marked on the bottom the "Laughlin
Art China" I don't recall ever seeing this pitcher before,
so I know it's rare. I believe I have seen another mug like mine
for sale though, I think it was on eBay. What a great piece.
Sure I wish I'd gotten
it! Click
here for more detailed
photos
SOLD
DEC. 7th 2006
FOR $19,120.00
Photo
of first basketball
court
SOLD
DEC. 7th 2006 FOR $71,700.00
James
Naismith's hand written account of the first basketball game played in
1891
SOLD
DEC. 7th 2006
FOR $13,145.00
James
Naismith's whistle
Above
are three highlights
from the
Dec.
2006 historic sale of James Naismith personal belongings
I
attended the Grass
Valley Old West Antiques Show, in Grass Valley California on
Saturday May 13th 2006. The show is incredible and one of the
best antiques shows in the country. I was too pressed for time
to do a story on this years show, however I'll post a photo of
the best thing I saw...an 1899 bicycle race poster from Carson
City Nevada. I was so taken I forgot to measure it, but it was
big, framed it was about 40 inches tall by 30 wide. It sold to
renowned collector Peter Sidlow of Las Vegas for $4,500.00. It
was not only the best thing I saw, but probably the best bicycle
poster I've ever seen. Congrats Peter!
I
did find one item at the show....a circa 1890 Edwin J. Gillies
coffee tin with an illustration of a football game. My friend
John Bounaguidi was set up, and had gotten gotten two of these
tins, one white, one red, out a a Hunt's auctions a year or so
ago. He had the red one at the show and offered it to me for
what he gave, which was $considerable$. I think it's a little
faded, as I've seen another red one that wasn't. I couldn't make
up my mind, so John told me to take it home and see how it works
in my collection. I worked it in with my other tins and it looks
pretty nice, plus my girl friend Barbara thinks I should get it,
so darn I guess I'll have to now...it'$ only money!
If
you can believe it, the Gillies Coffee Company is still in
business, and they have a website with they're history. Seems
they were a major player in the coffee business in New York City
starting in 1840. Click
here to read they're
interesting story.
I've
only seen a few examples of this tin in 18 years, and always
wanted it. I'd sort of like to wait for one in a little better
condition, but they're so rare I suppose I better bite the
bullet while this one's available. Not only are the football
graphics really nice, but it's American...not Canadian, not
bloody English! On top of that it's one of the best depictions,
of 19th century American football used for advertising, and I
think it's the only tin with 19th century football.
