The AntiquesRoadshow Boston Red Stockings appraisal airs...

[GaryPassamonte]

I was disappointed with the segment. I believe Dunbar didn't even acknowledge the "cards" were Mort Rogers scorecard covers. They are also not one of a kind, although extremely rare. The beautiful Boston composite photo wasn't mentioned and is probably, excepting the autographed letter, the most valuable piece in the collection. This is a great artifact that required more air time and more detailed coverage.

[barrysloate]

The collection was of course grossly overvalued, but it is still an amazing grouping of Boston artifacts, with a great story attached. Her ancestor knew the players on the team, and housed them.

As Gary said, those were the front covers of Mort Rogers scorecards, and were badly trimmed, but the photos on them are wonderful. Also, neither Spalding nor Wright's signature are that rare. Spalding signed countless copies of his book, and Wright's scorebooks alone have dozens and dozens of signatures.

But as original finds go, this one is still spectacular. In auction, I think the lot would go for 150-200K, perhaps somewhat more given the Roadshow hype.

[MVSNYC]

Hi Barry, I don't know that much at all about 19th century pieces, but my gut tells me you're much closer to the value than Dunbar.

[barrysloate]

Leila is enthusiastic, and knows her antiques, but she's a bit off on this one. Incidentally, she and I worked together during the cataloguing of the Barry Halper sale.

[Fred]

Article about the show:

Monday night's episode of "Antiques Roadshow" saw one of the most valuable archives ever seen on the show.

A rare photographic baseball card collection of the Boston Red Stockings worth at least $1 million.

"If you're going to insure it, I would insure it for at least $1 million," said appraiser Leila Dunbar on "Antiques Roadshow."

"Are you serious? Oh my!" said the collection's owner.

Yes, this lucky lady inherited the collection of 1871 baseball cards from her great-great-grandmother, who housed the Boston baseball team in her boardinghouse for a short time.

She told the "Antiques Roadshow" appraiser most of the players came from the Cincinnati Red Stockings and were some of the first to get paid to play baseball.

Among those players were Harry and George Wright and sporting goods king Albert Spaulding. Talk about some famous people!

And addition to the cards, the owner also inherited a letter in which all of the players wrote a short, personal message to her great-great-grandmother and signed.

The appraiser said the signatures on the letter accounted for a big chunk of that $1 million price tag.
Fans of the show on Twitter couldn't believe how much the card collection ended up being worth.

And even the appraiser seemed surprised, calling the archive one of the greatest she's seen on the Roadshow.

But the owner isn't going to cash in on this grand slam of a collection anytime soon - she says she wants to keep it in the family.

[prewarsports]

Interesting that the other signatures of the non-hall of famers on that letter were not even mentioned, but are worth more than the Wright and Spalding as well. Many of the others players have no known autographs or in some cases only 1 or 2 known to exist.

WAY overvalued, but really cool and you can pretty much insure anything for as much as you want as long as you are willing to pay the company the premium to insure it for that much.

I agree the "archive" is probably worth closer to 200K with the letter probably being the most valuable individual piece but possibly the team photo.

[The Nasty Nati]

Has Roadshow posted the video or a link to view it online?

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Leila is enthusiastic, and knows her antiques, but she's a bit off on this one. Incidentally, she and I worked together during the cataloguing of the Barry Halper sale.

I guess it's hard to be too harsh when you actually know someone. I can comment at arms length. She was right that they are valuable, but that's about all. She was purporting to be a 19thC baseball memorabilia expert, yet she obviously did not know what these were - she did not even know what to google. In fact, if you just go to google images and type in Dave Birdsall or Harry Wright (or probably any of the others) and scroll down a bit, you see Mort Rogers cards. It makes one wonder how good or bad they are on all the other stuff.

I know the appraisers must be under time pressure, but if you don't know it's better to say you don't know. Or better yet, post a scan and a question on net54.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

It makes one wonder how good or bad they are on all the other stuff.

+1

That's my question. I'm betting there are online forums like ours for art, pottery, glassware, furniture, etc. that rip on other valuations Antiques Roadshow comes up with all the time. We just don't hear about it because we're not into collecting that stuff.

Regardless, Antiques Roadshow is a great show and I enjoy watching it to see what people have and where they got it from. Definitely makes you dream of unearthing a 'find', though!

jeff