Posted By:
JasonHi warshawlaw, please find the further info requested.
I am not saying this is the oldest card, just an early one.
As far as it being odd that C&I would give permission for this images use on this CDV, this would make sense, if as I suggested earlier, that this card was produced to publicise the release of the C&I print and its subsequent sale in BBBE.
As far as why this card has never been identified previously, it was purchased from a non-baseball dealer. The guy specialised in old photos and non-sport CDV’s. Before he got his hands on it - it was probably sitting in some CDV album in someone’s attic.
As far as its authentication, I own many early baseball CDV’s from the early to late 1860’s and I am 100% convinced that this is genuine. But of course I did not only rely on my own judgement which could be biased, I approached others for their opinions too.
The card has been seen by 4 different experts and physically handled by 2 of them. Both David Rudd & Bob Lemke have seen large scans of the card and agree that everything is consistent with the assertions. Both Rob Lifson (who's seen just about every card there is over 30 years in the hobby) and PSA have scrutinised the card in person and done many hours of research on it. Both are 100% convinced the card is genuine. PSA have now encapsulated it, calling it The American National Game of Base Ball BBBE CDV and labelling it as “Authentic”. All four experts agree that this is the only known example in existence.