eBay

This week I'm offering a number of old baseball photos and other collectibles. Baseball Magazine was published from 1907 to 1957 and was the dominant sports publication of its time. Beginning in 1910, they issued unique and distinctive premiums for readers choosing to subscribe. These mini-posters showcased the greatest players of the time and were printed on slick, high-quality paper. The early versions of these premiums measured about 9 1/2" x 18" and are designated as M113 in the hobby catalogs. After about 1916, the size became standardized at 9 1/2 x 12 1/2" and are labeled as M114. The set is known for its sepia-toned photos and the wide white border around those photos. Overall, about 500 different photos were issued over a period spanning nearly 50 years, and if you count minor variations in the captions, the number swells to almost twice that total. These pieces remain highly collectible and popular.

Here I have an example of the earlier subset, a picture featuring pitcher Tex Russell of the White Sox (although he was more generally known as "Red" Russell). Russell had a huge rookie year in 1913, and that's probably the year of this issue. Like most M113's that have survived into the hobby, it's been trimmed down to the edge of the picture area; this piece measures about 7 1/2" x 15". Other than the trim, the piece is actually in rather nice condition. Not too bad for an item that's more than a century old!. This would be a terrific addition to any collection!

Shipping is $8.00 for Priority Mail, and postage will be combined for multiple winnings.