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1889 Chicago World Tour Design Program

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1889 Chicago World Tour Design Program

When the Chicago Nationals returned from the World Tour of 1888-89, the magnitude of their accomplishments continued to be celebrated. A beautiful series of 16-page programs were produced, considered among the most beautiful ever made, featuring portraits of Chicago players, surrounded by four scenes representing the World Tour. Offered is one of these very special programs, featuring a portrait of Chicago catcher Frank "Silver" Flint. The surrounding illustrations are entitled, respectively, "Uncle Sam's Farewell in California," "Arrival in Australia," "Reception in England" (showing Anson shaking hands with a dignitary, with other players behind), and "At the Pyramids" (showing ballplayers riding camels, in uniform, with pyramids in background). Interior pages include much advertising (including for Old Judge), brief biographies, and final statistics for Chicago players for the 1888 season. Also included, of course, are the scorecard pages. This program commemorates a game between the Chicago and Pittsburgh clubs, and is preprinted with the very specific date of "August 23" on Chicago's lineup page. Pittsburgh's lineup includes Beckley, Hanlon, Billy Sunday, and Galvin. The Chicago lineup includes Jimmy Ryan, Anson, Duffy, and Van Haltren. These rare programs are extremely substantial. Each is a magnificent tribute to the famous World Tour of 1888-89, as well as a masterpiece of nineteenth-century lithography. Extraordinary as an early program, and as a nineteenth-century display piece. The scoring pages have been very neatly scored in pencil. Excellent condition.Reserve $700. Estimate $1,500/$2,500.

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