1873 Andrew Peck Signed Cabinet Card and 1881 Peck & Snyder Catalog

Sold For:

$1,410

Year:

1873

Auction:

2007 Spring

Lot #:

984

Category:

-

Andrew Peck is one of the magic names of the earliest days of organized baseball. His role as an entrepreneur, supplying quality baseball equipment and other baseball-related materials including score books to organized and professional teams as early as the 1860s, played a significant role in the development of baseball. Peck & Snyder, based in New York, was one of the largest sporting goods suppliers in the country during the second half of the nineteenth century. The company was bought out by Al Spalding in 1894. Aside from an occasional bat, sporting-goods catalog, and of course the highly prized photographic advertising trade cards featuring ballplayers which are among the earliest of all baseball cards, few relics have survived relating to Peck. Presented here is an extremely rare signed cabinet card of Andrew Peck, along with an 1881 Peck & Snyder catalog. The cabinet card pictures Peck in a formal studio pose and has been inscribed in black ink ("9") on the photo beneath his portrait "Yours Respectfully "“ Andrew Peck." Written below his signature, on the mount, is the date "April 1/73." There are several areas of minor paper loss on the reverse from once being mounted in a scrapbook and carefully removed. Both the photograph, which displays exceptional clarity and contrast, and mount (4.25 x 6.5 inches) are otherwise in Excellent to Mint condition. The fifty-eight page Peck & Snyder athletic-goods catalog dates from 1881. The cover (entitled "Base Ball Players' Supplies") features a colorful illustration of a baseball player, gymnast, and sailor posing together in their respective uniforms. Listed among the company"™s goods in the interior pages are prices and illustrations for equipment for baseball, cricket, tennis and football, as well as various other indoor and outdoor sports. The catalog has some general wear, including a slight separation of the covers from the spine and a few areas of discoloration, but is in overall Very Good condition. Extremely rare and ideal for display. Total 2 items. From the Barry Halper Collection. Reserve $100. Estimate $200/$400. SOLD FOR $1,410.00