This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2022
Baseball and tobacco have a long history together, with the major producers of cigarettes and cigars using the sport to sell their product. Because of this long relationship, some of the finest baseball advertising pieces were produced by tobacco companies. This massive three-fold advertising panel being one of the rarest and most attractive. Created for Sure Shot Chewing Tobacco around 1910, the die cut piece depicts a big league baseball game in progress. A full stadium watches as a batter prepares to swing while the pitcher begins his windup. The Sure Shot logo graces the upper part of the center panel along with a rendering of the tobacco packaging. It’s a visually impressive piece that must have stood out when displayed in a shop back in 1910. Today very few examples remain. The only other version we were able to find, in much poorer condition and missing the bottom left and right corners, came to auction back in 2012. To say this is a rare piece would be an understatement. Measuring approximately 43” x 33”, the lithographic printed piece retains strong coloring. There is the expected overall toning from age and some surface wear and light staining. The edges show some rounding and wear, though none detract much from the visual impact of the piece.
Frame Measurement: 51 1⁄4 x 51