|
RARE! Uncataloged 1905 Louis Van Oeyen Postcard of Nap Lajoie.
Lot 1. RARE! Uncataloged 1905 Louis Van Oeyen Postcard of Nap Lajoie. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, something truly unique emerges from a consignment presented by a veteran collector. That’s the case with this postcard, which provides a close-up head-on portrait of “Napoleon Lajoie, Manager and Captain, Cleveland American League Base Ball Club, Season 1905.” It has an undivided postcard back and carries a 1905 copyright by “L. Van Oeyen, Cleveland, Ohio.” Working for the Cleveland Press, Van Oeyen was, of course, one of the great early baseball photographers. In fact, he was so highly regarded that the American League designated him as its official photographer in 1908. We consulted a number of veteran postcard collectors about this card. Not one had seen it before. The corners are consistent with an ex to ex-m grade. The card has a light to moderate ¾” crease in Lajoie’s hair on the right side and an extremely light crease on his left cheek. Both creases are more observable on the back. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937, Lajoie was immensely popular, and he was one of baseball’s best hitters from 1897-1906.
Winning Bid $1,577.
Back to List
|
|
|
|
