1939 Baseball Centennial Stamps Uncut Sheet Including Babe Ruth Plus Rare Original Album

Sold For:

$1,050

Year:

1939

Auction:

2022 Spring

Lot #:

926

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1930s and 1940s Cards

The 1939 Baseball Centennial, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the "birth" of baseball, was a yearlong celebration highlighted by the dedication of the Baseball Hall of Fame on June 12th. Naturally, a number of souvenir items commemorating the game's anniversary were produced and sold that year, including a beautiful set of twenty-five Centennial of Baseball Stamps. (An album was also issued to house the stamps.) The set was produced by Emery A. Parichy, who in 1934 started his own baseball museum in Illinois, the Forrest Park Baseball Museum, which predated the Hall of Fame and opened to the public in 1935. Presented is a complete set of the twenty-five 1939 Baseball Centennial Stamps in sheet form as issued, accompanied by the original album designed to house the stamps. Stamps numbered 1-13, most of which are horizontal in design, picture famous baseball pioneers or illustrations concerning the game's early history. (Interesting note: Some of the stamp artwork was supplied by Al Demaree, the ballplayer from the teens who was also an illustration artist who had a special interest in baseball-related projects. Demaree was also responsible for the artwork in the backgrounds of 1938 Goudey "Heads-Up" cards, the cartoon bodies of R304 Al Demaree Die-Cuts, and 1947 Signal Oil cards.) Stamps numbered 14-25, which are vertical in design, feature portraits of many of the game's greatest players, including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. These colorful stamps have text along the top and bottom borders that reads, respectively, "1839 Centennial of Baseball 1939" and "Commemorative Poster Stamps." Both the left and right borders feature illustrations of baseball equipment, including gloves, bats, balls, and catcher's gear. The sheet measures approximately 9 x 11.25 inches and presents as Very Good overall, with bold colors and crisp images. It would technically grade more modestly due to a tiny tear to the Cobb stamp and slight separation on a few of the perforations. This sheet is ideal for display and could easily be matted and framed to mitigate these minor flaws and present a superb Excellent overall appearance! The original 36-page album (4.5 x 9 inches) remains in Excellent condition overall. Total: 2 items (uncut stamp sheet and original album). Reserve $300.