Auction Item Details
Lot 67
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Lot Number: 67
Description: Scarce and possibly unique 1923 Babe Ruth advertising broadside. Imposing 28"x42" matted and framed original paper advertising broadside depicting an oversized image of Babe Ruth batting at the left side. The poster was issued to promote baseball games played by the National Vaudeville Artists' Sick and Benefit Fund baseball team. A message from Ruth is printed on the poster and reads as follows: "To my pals of the N.V.A. baseball club, You boys have the fastest semi-pro baseball club I have ever seen and I trust your 1923 tour will be a howling success. You certainly have the greatest attraction of its kind in this country and I only wish I could go along with you on the trip. I have enjoyed your work on the stage and diamond alike. I hope your tour will bring in a lot of money to the National Vaudeville Artists' Sick and Benefit Fund and in that I am joined by all the members of the Yankee team...Babe Ruth." Below the image of Ruth and text is an advertisement for a game between "N.V.A. vs. St. Louis" to be played at Clinton Oval. Marked at the bottom "National Printing & Engraving Co. L.I. City, New York". Overall appearance is strong with the condition remaining very fine given its original fragility. The poster has been laid down on acid free linen backing and has had some professional restoration to several areas mostly at joints from original fold lines. There are a few line creases and small tears which have also been reinforced with some minor inpainting in addition to a few small losses in the background area which have also been inpainted. The offered broadside is one of the earliest and more substantive Ruth related exemplars of its type. With note to its impressive large format sizing, 1923 dating corresponding to the Yankees first World Championship and opening of Yankee Stadium, and sheer scarcity, the poster must be considered among the pinnacle of Ruth display items in the hobby: VG-EX
Estimated Price: ($10,000.00-$15,000.00)
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