Spring 2018 - Item detail
Circa 1918 Walter Johnson "Weiser Wonder" Postcard - Walter Johnson's Personal Copy!
- Sold For:
- $1,560
- Year:
- 1918
- Auction:
- 2018 Spring
- Lot #:
- 194
- Category:
- Prewar Baseball - Early 1900s Cards
Scarce postcard picturing Walter Johnson as a member of the Weiser Baseball Club in 1907. While Walter Johnson "Weiser Wonder" postcards have always been highly prized, this particular example comes with the unique provenance of having been Walter Johnson's personal example and originates directly from the Johnson-family scrapbook. The formal studio photograph pictures Johnson posing in his Weiser (Idaho) uniform shortly before he signed with the Senators in 1907. This is one of a few different variations of this postcard issued during the time, all of which are believed to have been produced in Weiser. There has always been some ambiguity regarding the dating of this postcard. Although the photo was taken in 1907, it's not known if the card was produced while Johnson was still with the club in the first half of the 1907 season, or sometime later, when he became a star at the major league level (for an educated discussion concerning the matter, please see these interesting threads on the Net54 baseball message board: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=160470 and http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=223928&highlight=weiser).
Given what we do know, it seems probable the the offered postcard was produced in the late teens or early 1920s (we have never seen this particular postcard with a postmark earlier than the late teens). This is only the second black-and-white example known, the other few are sepia. Also, the other examples of this issue have the caption: “No. 39 Walter Johnson Weiser Wonder" along the base. This example may have that caption as well, but the base has been obscured by editorial shading. While only conjecture, it's possible that a reporter or photographer asked Johnson for an image of him with Weiser, and he lent this one for that purpose, whereupon the editor painted out the caption before returning it to him. It should also be noted that the other examples of this card have white borders, which have all been trimmed away on the offered piece. As mentioned earlier, this piece originates directly from Johnson's private scrapbook and displays both paper loss and paper residue on the reverse as a result of its removal from the album. Despite the flaws on the reverse, one can make out fragments of both the original handwritten text and postmark (sent from Weieser), including the date "7/8/22." The card (3.125 x 5.25 inches) also displays a few heavy creases and tiny abrasions on the front. In Fair condition overall. For an in-depth look at Walter Johnson’s two years pitching for Weiser, see “The Weiser Wonder: Walter Johnson in Idaho,” by Henry W. Thomas, Johnson’s biographer and grandson (http://cwcfamily.org/wj/ww0.htm). Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Henry W. Thomas.
Reserve $300. Estimate (open).
Given what we do know, it seems probable the the offered postcard was produced in the late teens or early 1920s (we have never seen this particular postcard with a postmark earlier than the late teens). This is only the second black-and-white example known, the other few are sepia. Also, the other examples of this issue have the caption: “No. 39 Walter Johnson Weiser Wonder" along the base. This example may have that caption as well, but the base has been obscured by editorial shading. While only conjecture, it's possible that a reporter or photographer asked Johnson for an image of him with Weiser, and he lent this one for that purpose, whereupon the editor painted out the caption before returning it to him. It should also be noted that the other examples of this card have white borders, which have all been trimmed away on the offered piece. As mentioned earlier, this piece originates directly from Johnson's private scrapbook and displays both paper loss and paper residue on the reverse as a result of its removal from the album. Despite the flaws on the reverse, one can make out fragments of both the original handwritten text and postmark (sent from Weieser), including the date "7/8/22." The card (3.125 x 5.25 inches) also displays a few heavy creases and tiny abrasions on the front. In Fair condition overall. For an in-depth look at Walter Johnson’s two years pitching for Weiser, see “The Weiser Wonder: Walter Johnson in Idaho,” by Henry W. Thomas, Johnson’s biographer and grandson (http://cwcfamily.org/wj/ww0.htm). Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Henry W. Thomas.
Reserve $300. Estimate (open).