SCP Auctions November 19th, 2011 Auction

Extremely rare Churchill & Denison National Nine, 1865 CDV team photo picturing a Civil War era team of 9 men in "uniform" and 3, possibly the team executives, dressed in suits. All 12 are identified in print in the border beneath the image and above the team name. We assume the team represented the city of Albany, New York as that is the location of the Churchill & Denison Studio. 3-1/2" x 2-1/8" albumen print is attached to the item's thick cardboard mount, which measures 4" x 2-3/8" and provides a crystal clear image of the Civil War era team. CDV's, carte de visite. were patented in Paris, France and introduced into the United States in 1860. CDV's were the forerunners to the early tobacco cards and, could be called the distant relative to today's modern card hobby. A period tax stamp is adhered to the reverse along with the address of the Churchill & Denison Studio. Card looks to be excellent in overall appearance and does not appear to have any creasing. One small ding with some light discoloration at the lower left corner. A very light smudge over one of the player's name that does not hinder the printing in the slightest. The offered card is one of the earliest baseball cards in existence, predating the more famous 1869 Cincinnati Red Stocking card by 4 years. A true treasure from the infancy of the game we know and love as baseball today.