Help ID the year of these 19th Century items
 

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I'd guess the first one is 1878 Utica (since it says it on the back). :)

https://www.robertedwardauctions.com...ajor-leaguers/

I just did research on another Utica photographer (Gardner) and remember finding info on Mundy and another photographer named Frey, I believe. You might be able to set an end date at least, since I seem to recall Mundy joined with Frey at some point. Sorry, this was not my focus at the time, but you should be able to acquire some info.
It is not a team, but the photo I was researching is incre$ibly interesting to me and I have attached it. The little vignettes are great. I estimate this to be 1873 to 1878.

According to an article on Frey, from 1921, he joined Mundy at 11 Broad street in 1873 and Mundy had started there in 1871 with someone named Rowell. Not sure if both were used on on all the mounts, but the early starting point is probably 1871. Just a quess, but I think 1871 to 1878 for the team. I will try to do some more later.

You probably already know this, but the other photographer, Kopke, is from Brooklyn.

I decided to do a little more research on my piece and came across three auction listings for your Utica image, all dated 1878 and identifying the team as the 1878 Utica Pent UPS. (REA, Lotg, Hunt all different copies I think)

The second picture says "Hughie O'Neil - Pitcher (Top Center)" on the back. Hugh O'Neil pitched for the 1875 Brooklyn Atlantics, so that would be my guess for the team and year, especially given that, as bgar3 mentioned, the photographer Kopke was from Brooklyn. The top line on the back says "Baseball Team", but I can't make out what the second and fourth lines say.

Excellent research and agreed on the years. Here is better scan of the back.

Page 59 of Base Ball Cartes - The First Baseball Cards by Mark Rucker

http://www.collectingbrooklyn.com/ne...lCartesP59.jpg

May be Baltimore (2nd line) and john McGraw

Another copy of your second cabinet is being discussed in the memorabilia section. It is thought to be Williamsburg, but it is definitely not the Atlantics.

JC, you have the same cabinet, that's awesome! Do you still have it? Have you learned anything new?

O'neil and Esterbrook were about the same age. I couldn't find a photo of O'neil to match with this one. It's possible that they played on a team in a town starting with "W" near Brooklyn circa 1880.

John McGraw was born in 1873, so I don't see how he fits in here, other than his name is on the back. How would someone know who Hugh O'neil was? Why would they call him "Hughie" unless he were their relative or famous?

This is fun...See my thread in memorabilia...lots of people have chimed in with good information...Rob

JC, if you still have the cabinet, zoom in with your scanner on the player on the 2nd row to the far right. If you can, try to scan as sharp a photo of his face using the highest dpi setting. My cabinet looks to be a little more worn than yours. If your copy is sharper, we might be able to i.d. Esterbrook, Thanks, Rob

Great looking cabinets.

I can identify that those are things that I want. Nice.