James Creighton on another CDV?
Why not!
John Thorn’s recent discovery of the little James Creighton depicted on the ‘American National Game’ lithograph published by Currier & Ives, reminded me of the “Baltimore Base Ball Emporium” Carte de Visite photograph that originally appeared on eBay and later sold by Robert Edward Auctions in 2005.
On the front, the CDV features an albumen print of the famous Currier & Ives lithograph and the reverse carries an advertisement for George Gratton’s Baltimore Base Ball Emporium, an establishment that had its opening in 1866, the same year the lithograph was published.
According to the auction’s description back in 2005, there were fewer than ten surviving original examples of the 1866 Currier & Ives lithograph.
The last example had sold for $76,375 (including the Buyers Premium) back in 2004 at Skinner Auctions.
The “Baltimore Base Ball Emporium” CDV ended up selling for $2,088.
Can you guess for how much these could go now that it’s known that a tiny Creighton is adorning them?
I don’t have a clue, but I do know that after John’s discovery, the cheap Currier & Ives litho reproduction that’s been hanging on my office wall for years, now looks cooler and Creighton-esque!
Update: March 9, 2012
Robert Edward Auctions will have the CDV again up for grabs on their upcoming 2012 sale. You can read more here: http://blog.robertedwardauctions.com/?p=615