[Leon]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Leon-More than conjecture, my friend. Here is an ad from a book seller for the 1870 edition. He also had an 1867 edition. This was an annual publication.

1870 - "Baseball Players Book of Reference" by Henry Chadwick

138-pg booklet 4"x6", front cover missing, onion-skin type pages, some at front loosely attached, at the back unattached. Has first page, then jumps to page 20 "Rules and Regulations...". Doesn't look like anything is missing - has basically the same information as the 1867 book described above, includingthe same engravings except for the baseball field/pitcher at front, with the exception of a few introductory pages introducing the sport. This book also includes 18 pages of Peck & Snyder sporting goods ads at the back, including engravings of a baseball shirt, pants, shoes, runners, etc. This is the earliest collection of baseball equipment ads I have ever seen. In 1868. Another significant item: in 1868 "safe hits" was added to score-keeping and detailed instructions on the "new statistic" have been added to this book. Before this, it didn't matter how you reached base!

Hi Jay
Thanks for posting this. I re-read it a few times and I am not seeing how this dates the CDV definitively to 1869. Can you help explain that? I am sure you are onto something but am not seeing it though I am sure I will eventually. Sometimes I am kind of slow to see stuff. Thanks for all of the info too.....