1889 Baseball poster sells for $115,000

June 26, 3:17 PMChicago Sports Memorabilia ExaminerTom Morgan

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Have you ever been at a garage sale, noticed an old, rolled up item, and decided not to unroll and look at it? After reading this article, you'll probably unroll the next one.

The 1889 Goodwin & Company Baseball Round Album Advertising Poster pictured with this article was found earlier this year at an Upstate New York Estate Sale. A book dealer found the poster on an old dresser on top of a pile of books. Two other dealers had previously passed right by the poster. The book dealer bought the poster, and consigned the item to a lelands.com auction, which ended this month. Including Buyer's Premium, the poster sold for $115,271.48.  http://www.lelands.com/bid.aspx?lot=330&auctionid=905
 

According to the item description from Leland's, The poster measures 28.5x20” and is in overall very good condition with some minor tearing and creasing...It is 100% unrestored and untouched which makes this a fresh hobby commodity in original condition. The original brass plated metal bar is at top for this to hang at the local tobacconist is there and complete. The Knapp and Company imprimatur is imprinted in the bottom right corner. There are two other specimens known of this poster, one being heavily restored. Both are larger format making this the only known specimen.

Robert Edward auctions had an 1889 Cap Anson and Buck Ewing "Burke Ale" Beer Poster sell for $160,000 in a May 2008 auction. http://bid.robertedwardauctions.com/bidplace.aspx?itemid=9757

The REA poster was in better condition then the Round Album poster which just ended at lelands.com. REA described their item as grading at least Excellent to Mint. All of the colors are strikingly bold, flawless, and vibrant; and the poster exhibits none of the tears, creases, or stains so common to similar displays of this vintage.

Next time you see a commercial with an athlete advertising a product, remember the Anson and Ewing Beer Poster. According to REA, This 1889 advertising poster represents the first documented paid endorsement of a product of any kind by baseball players. It is also certainly the first advertising piece featuring players in promotion of an alcoholic beverage, which is ironic in that the use of alcohol at games in the 1880s and 1890s was such a big issue that there was concern for the future success of the game itself, as a pastime suitable for attendance by the entire family, and not just for a “rough and rowdy” crowd.

I think Ewing was saying "Tastes Great" and Anson was thinking "Less Filling". Meanwhile, if you're ever at an estate or garage sale, and you see an old poster, don't pass it by.