Posted By:
AnonymousCarl...
While there is certainly a debate whether the 1899 Enamaline doll is the first "card", there is little debate that most vintage basketball collectors do consider it a basketball item. There is already a football doll in the Enamaline set, and the ball in the image is not a rugby ball. It would be odd to have both a rugby and a football doll in the same set. Plus, it came out during a time when basketball was really spreading across the country.
The Tetlow trade card is nice. The set of four cards looks great together. However, I think it is a stretch to call it the first basketball card. It is however a nice early example of a basketball collectable.
Regards, Pat