FS: 1887 Detroit Wolverines CDV (Pirated Copy)

[SetBuilder]

Originally Posted by ramram

Great image. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a cdv from the 1880’s. Odd that the photographer was selling cdv images in the era of the larger format cabinet cards. Unique. Best of luck.

Rob M.

Well, they’re still selling vinyl records today in the era of streaming music.

[SetBuilder]

The mount is from Charles A. Millard's (b. 1834 - d. 1890-91) studio. He was in business as Powelson & Millard until Powelson left the studio sometime after 1880. The 1880-81 Detroit business directory lists Millard at 224 Woodward Ave. It just so happens that the Wolverines played at Recreation Park, which would be just a block east of Woodward.

[oldjudge]

Are you sure it's not a salt print?

[SetBuilder]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Are you sure it's not a salt print?

No, this has the distinct look and feel of a high end studio CDV.

[SetBuilder]

To update: I took the CDV to a well respected auctioneer near my house to get a second opinion and he said he doesn't specialize in baseball but he strongly suspects that it's a pirated version not from the original negative (what I suspected). He said that pirated versions usually have blank mounts but not always. It could have either been authorized by Millard himself or perhaps the creation of a rogue employee. I asked him how he would price such an item and he said he's not sure about this particular subject, but that it should be worth significantly less than an original, but it depends on various factors...

Definitely a huge bummer.