January 2011 Pick-ups

[wake.up.the.echoes]

Picked up this postally used 1905 "The Yale Eleven" postcard that features College Football Hall of Famers Thomas Shevlin (pictured lower right) and "Tad" Jones (pictured top row, second from the left).

In 1905, Shevlin was an Consensus All-American, as was Roswell Tripp (pictured bottom row, third from the right).

Walter Forbes (pictured top row, second from the right) was selected by Walter Camp in Collier's Weekly as a second team All-American, as was S.F.B. Morse (pictured bottom row, second from the left) and Flanders (pictured middle row, by himself).

Interestingly, Howard Roome, Guy Hutchinson and Lucius "Ray" Bigelow were other Yale players also named All-Americans during the 1905 season, but are not pictured on the postcard. Talk about a stacked team.

[GoldenAge50s]

Wow--That's pretty neat! I'll bet there aren't many of those around!

[wake.up.the.echoes]

Fred, I've seen a handful of 1905 "The ... Eleven" postcards over the years, including a pretty nice "The Harvard Eleven" all the way from Australia that sold about a week ago on eBay. I missed it, but it went pretty cheap.

Coincidentally, there was another Harvard one—this one a little more beat up—that sold on eBay this week. I was able to snag that one, and I will post it as soon as I have it in hand. I believe that a "The Dartmouth Eleven" postcard also exists from the 1905 season, but I have only seen a worthpoint.com scan of that type. Would love to own one of those—and any other postcard from the "set"—if it happens to pop on eBay. Fingers crossed. -Alan

EDIT: I actually have it in hand, and much to my surprise—while it is a little more beat up than "The Yale Eleven" postcard—"The Harvard Eleven" postcard I won off eBay isn't postally used! Solid. Will post scans later. -A

[wake.up.the.echoes]

As promised, here is "The Harvard Eleven".

Picked up this 1905 "The Harvard Eleven" postcard that features 1905 consensus All-Americans Karl Brill (pictured bottom row, second from the right), Beaton Squires (pictured top row, second from the right), Francis Burr (pictured bottom row, third from the right), and Captain Daniel Hurley (pictured middle row, by himself).

This one is NOT postally used, but does have a piece of brown re-inforcement tape on the back. The tape is re-inforcing a couple of pin holes in the top-center of the postcard.

Matches "The Yale Eleven" quite nicely!

[wake.up.the.echoes]

I just couldn't resist picking up this c1900 cabinet photo depicting an unknown football player in uniform—any information as to definitive date, player or team would be greatly appreciated. Cabinet measures 5" x 8.5", and there is a "Chalmers of Bangor" logo imprinted on the lower right part of the mount. Bangor, ME maybe?