“Babe Ruth on the Farm” LE Photo, 130/975

In the early 1990s, the St. Louis-based Megacards commenced releases of card issues under licenses secured to reproduce vintage baseball photos. Among these were those copyrighted by Francis P. Burke whose originals date to the early 20th Century. As an ambitious departure from the company’s standard card issues, Megacards sponsored the production of limited edition enlargements for several of the images – all of them generated individually from their original glass negatives. The merit of these renderings derives, in part, on their numeric serialization. (But none of these, we’re told, ever approached the completion of their serialization.) Of greater import, though, is their high-energy subject matter – then fully enhanced by the quality fiber-base material by which they’re delivered. Borne on the most advanced technology of the day, these enlargements project a quality of detail that maintains utmost clarity – with not a hint of “grainy” compromise. Usually measuring 16″ x 20″ they are indeed devised from the original negatives, and guarantee the utmost in aesthetic display.

The mighty Babe caught in a more humbling moment, this image of Ruth in the course of an off-season chore probably dates to the mid-20s (based on his more streamlined profile). This is not the great slugger posed in pinstripes – nor even in his signature cashmere cap. Instead, this is testimony that even the rich and famous sometimes gotta change the car’s oil during the winter. Serialized “130/975”, in EX/MT condition with handling wear along the borders.

Baseball,Card  Babe Ruth

Auction End: 05-Sep-07  Post Views: 1586

Price; $0.00 – $0.00