AN EARLY LETTER WITH A MENTION OF BASEBALL

ALS. 8pp. 5” x 7”. Oct 4 99. Armstrong, Fla. An autograph letter signed “Marcel”, with a very early mention of a baseball game. The sports content states: “...the Rail Road team came out on the train to play Ball and of course they won the game 7 to 5 in favor of the R.R. and I was truly glad they won but of course I could not say such out here as these folks would kill me…until the game started which was half pass [sic] two they ate dinner and the two boys and I sat together under the shed until time to go over to the Ball grounds so these the three of us walked…”. An early baseball letter.

AMERICAN DIPLOMAT THOMAS ASPINWALL IS INVITED TO A BOWLING DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON

(BOWLING). Document. 1pg. May 1, 1849. 383 Strande, [London]. A handwritten invitation from the Proprietors of the American Bowling Saloon to American consul in London Thomas Aspinwall (1786-1876) to attend a bowling demonstration: “The Proprietors of the American Bowling Saloon beg the honor of the company of Colonel Aspinwall to an opening entertainment on Thursday next may 3d at 8 O’clock P.M., on which occasion they propose to give a private view of the very exhilarating & devoutly esteemed American game of Bowling as practiced in the United States. (Supper at the table at 9 oclock).” Bowling has been practiced since antiquity, in England since the Middle Ages, and in America since the colonial period (think of the reference to the sport in Rip Van Winkle). This reference to specifically American bowling must have to do with variations to the game. It is in fine condition.

a) TLS. 1pg. 8 ½” x 11. May 28th, 1935. New York. A colorful typed letter signed “Charles J. Harvey” to Jerry Sachs in Cleveland; he advertises the Italian flyweight Richard Li Brandi (career record 9-5-1)“the best flyweight in America today”; the lightweight champion Norment Quarles (career record 65-43-5), a “college graduate and must have had boxing in among his studies”; and Eddie Flynn “the Olympic Welterweight Champion” in 1932. The stationery advertises “Eric Holmberg Swedish Middleweight Champion”; Holmberg (1906-1982) racked up a 14-13-3 ring record.

b) TL. 1pg. 8 ½” x 11”. No date. No place. A typed letter with a large banner advertising “Billy McCann Ohio Sensational Lightweight”. It is a printed letter from Jerry Sachs announcing that McCann was now under Sachs’s management. Billy McCann compiled a less than stellar 2-3-2 record.

A SPECTACULAR BICYCLE LETTERHEAD

(BICYCLING). ALS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. August 31, 1901. Sutherland, Iowa.  An autograph letter signed “H.S. Record”, a well-known bicycle stunt rider.  The terrific letterhead boasts that he is “The World’s Favorite Expert Bicycle Rider” and has a portrait of Record and an image of him riding down a staircase.  Record wrote to an Iowa man: “Have decided to come to Aurora Saturday morning from the west Sept 7^th.  You can meet me in town in the afternoon and I will go out home with you.  So Nell is down to Cambridge now you have just got home from there.  You can be sure of my coming.  Will stay until Tuesday when I have to go to Clinton Iowa.”  The letter has the usual mailing folds and is in very fine condition.

DRAMA UNFOLDS IN THIS VERY EARLY MENTION OF NEW YORK RACETRACKS: “MR. COLDEN WROTE…AN OFFER FOR THE COURSE…THE OTHER PARTY AND RENTED THE COURSE TO BURR’S MAN MR. BOTTS DURING THE NEXT RACES FOR THE TRIFLING SUM OF $350”

(HORSE RACING).  ALS. 3pg. 8” x 9 ¾”. February 7, 1833. New York, NY.  An autograph letter signed “Eliza Colden” to William P. Haskins of Troy, New York.  The letter regards a racetrack rental gone wrong.  This is a very early mention of American racetracks, since they were not in common use until after the Civil War.  In part: “I understand that Mr. Colden wrote yesterday to Mrs. Wells making an offer for the Course but at the time he did it he had no conception that Mr. Dey had gone over to the other party and rented the course to Burr’s man Mr. Botts during the next Races for the trifling sum of $350.  I feel hurt to think that while we were doing every thing in good faith to aid and assist and after having spent my money that we should be thus treated Mr. Dey, not even thinking it worth while to mention the subject to either myself or Mr. Colden.  Had Mr. Dey done his duty and got possession and you wished to have rented the property you might have got $1000 for it during next May Races.  I write this letter without the knowledge of Mr. Colden, in order if possible to prevent mischief which I fear it will be too late to prevent.  He is outrageous and says that as the other party have acted treacherously and gone over too Burr he does not see why he should not make terms with Burr also Burr had made overtures to him which he has here to fore rejected with disdain as I am told but I now fear your will be the sufferers…”.  Many early racetracks were operated by the rich to showcase their horses; they frequently appeared and quickly disappeared.  Eliza Colder may have been related to Cadwallader Colden (1769-1834), the mayor of New York City from 1818 to 1821.  Aaron Burr (1756-1836) was Vice President and the killer of Alexander Hamilton in a duel; later in life, he served as a New York attorney.  The letter is in fine condition, with light toning and folds.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR A SUTRO BATHS SWIMMING RACE FEATURING AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION CHARLES CAVILL

(SUTRO BATHS). Located in San Francisco, Sutro Baths was the largest indoor swimming venue in the world when it opened in March 1896. It was owned by San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro (1830-1898). Sutro Baths burned to the ground in 1966.

An advertisement for an August 30, 1896 swimming tournament at the newly-opened Sutro Baths in San Francisco. The headliner of the event was Charles Cavill (1870-1897), a member of the noted Australian Cavill family of champion swimmers. This was Cavill’s first American appearance; he would drown in California the following year. Prominent American swimmers were also featured. The poster is in good condition with several water stains and chipping to the margins.