This collection will be available for sale in the August 25th-September 1st, 2012 MEARS Online Auction, www.mearsonlineauctions.com . Consignments wanted for our September sale. Surfacing at the 2012 National Sports Convention in Baltimore, these images date to the early years of football and are representations of anonymous east coast teams. Designated as CDV’s, the carte de visite was a type of small photograph which was patented in Paris, France by photographer André Adolphe Eugène Disdéri in 1854.
Subject is usually made of an albumen print, which was a thin paper photograph mounted on a thicker paper card.
Both the players and team remains anonymous, but the photographer is noted as his studio appears in gold embossing on the green paper mount.
Images are exceptionally clear and crisp, offering the viewer a quality study of the proper use of contrast, tone, and hue. Subjects are posed in complete football attire and appear at the respective photographer’s studio. Each card was examined by the staff of SGC to verify originality and turn of the century dating. 5 were given the final grade of “Authentic”, with one being assigned a grade of SGC 84 NM. To the knowledge of MEARS, these are the only surviving examples known.
Howard Studio of Lewiston, Maine
(Card 1 Standing Pose, Dark Sweater) 1900 Circa CDV Anonymous Howard Studio, SGC Authentic, Posed in a black turtleneck full sleeve length football uniform and wearing quilted pants with stripes knee high socks. Uniform is complete with dark leather lace up high top football cleats. Posed in studio.
Image remains in near mint condition. Mount grades excellent condition with wear to the corners and a small crease which has broken the surface on the left reverse. Keene is written in pencil on top of reverse. Front of CDV in gold embossing is, “Howard, Lewiston, Maine”. Mount and overall grade was determined by the experts at SGC to be “A” Authentic.
(Card 2 Standing Pose, Holding Football) 1900 Circa CDV Anonymous Howard Studio, SGC Authentic, Posed in a white turtle neck full sleeve jersey / sweater top. Cuffs and neckline are dark in color. “H” adorns the jersey front. Player wears pads in his quilted pants. Uniform is complete with dark leather lace up high top football cleats. Player is holding a melon football which has been painted, “’99”. Posed in studio.
Image remains in near mint condition. Mount grades excellent condition with minimal wear to the corners. Keene is written in pencil on top of reverse. Front of CDV in gold embossing is, “Howard, Lewiston, Maine”. ” Mount and overall grade was determined by the experts at SGC to be “A” Authentic.
(Card 3 Crossed Arms, Nose Guard) 1900 Circa CDV Anonymous Howard Studio, SGC Authentic, Posed in a white turtle neck full sleeve jersey / sweater top. Cuffs and neckline are dark in color. “G” adorns the jersey front. Player wears quilted pants with dark socks. Uniform is complete with dark leather lace up high top football cleats. A period nose guard hangs from his right side. Posed in studio.
Image remains in near mint condition. Mount grades excellent condition with minimal wear to the corners. Keene is written in pencil on top of reverse. Front of CDV in gold embossing is, “Howard, Lewiston, Maine”. ” Mount and overall grade was determined by the experts at SGC to be “A” Authentic.
(Card 4 Crossed Arms) 1900 Circa CDV Anonymous Howard Studio, SGC 84, Posed in a white turtle neck full sleeve jersey / sweater top. Cuffs and neckline are dark in color. “G” adorns the jersey front. Player wears quilted pants with reeded shin guards. Uniform is complete with dark leather lace up high top football cleats. Image remains in near mint condition. Mount and overall grade was determined by the experts at SGC to be a near mint 84. No writing on reverse. Front of CDV in gold embossing is, “Howard, Lewiston, Maine”. Posed in studio.
Flagg & Plummer Studio of Lewiston, Maine
(Card 1 Delbert Lundgrens Hands on Waist) 1900 Circa CDV Anonymous Flagg & Plummer Studio, SGC Authentic, Posed in dark lace up top, no logo, long sleeve jersey. Player wears quilted pants with dark socks. Uniform is complete with dark leather lace up high top football cleats. Image remains in near mint condition.
Mount remains in excellent overall condition. Written in pencil on reverse is, “Delbert Lundgrens, ’99, R.T.” Posed in studio. Front of CDV in gold embossing is, “Flagg & Plummer, Leading Gallery, 39 Lisbon ST, Lewiston, ME”. Mount and overall grade was determined by the experts at SGC to be “A” Authentic.
(Card 2 Player Standing) 1900 Circa CDV Anonymous Flagg & Plummer Studio, SGC Authentic, Posed in gray wide collar jersey / sweater with lace up front. Striped sleeve cuffs. No logo present. Player wears heavily quilted pants with reeded shin guards. Uniform is complete with dark leather lace up high top football cleats.
Mount remains in excellent overall condition. Written in pencil on reverse is, “Boyd, F__s, ’99, sub C”. Posed in studio. Front of CDV in gold embossing is, “Flagg & Plummer, Leading Gallery, 39 Lisbon ST, Lewiston, ME”. Mount and overall grade was determined by the experts at SGC to be “A” Authentic.
A seventh card, graded by SGC as “A” authentic, was retained as a permanent display for the MEARS Museum Collection.
For questions, consignments, or a free appraisal, please contact Troy R. Kinunen at (414)-828-9990 or email at troy@mearsonline.com