The Milton Mitchell Collection of United States 3-Cent 1861-68 Issues continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB STRIKE OF THE FAMOUS BATS, BASEBALL AND DIAMNONDS FANCY CANCELLATION OF WATERBURY CONNECTICUT. A MAGNIFICENT COVER, AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST BASEBALL-RELATED DESIGNS. ONLY SIX COVERS ARE KNOWN.

The cancellation was created by postmaster John W. Hill to commemorate the Waterbury Excelsior's victory over the Naugatuck Valley Nine, on July 24, 1867. In his comprehensive census of Waterbury cancels, William T. Crowe records six covers, used between Sep. 2 and 10, 1867.

According to The Baseball Archive available at http://baseball1.com: "the exact origins of baseball are unknown. Most historians agree that it is based on the English game of rounders. It began to become quite popular in this country in the early 19th century, and many sources report the growing popularity of a game called 'townball', 'base', or 'baseball'. Throughout the early part of that century, small towns formed teams, and baseball clubs were formed in larger cities. In 1845, Alexander Cartwright wanted to formalize a list of rules by which all teams could play. Much of that original code is still in place today. Although popular legend says that the game was invented by Abner Doubleday, baseball's true father was Cartwright. The first recorded baseball contest took place a year later, in 1846. Cartwright's Knickerbockers lost to the New York Baseball Club in a game at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. These amateur games became more frequent and more popular. In 1857, a convention of amateur teams was called to discuss rules and other issues. Twenty five teams from the northeast sent delegates. The following year, they formed the National Association of Base Ball Players, the first organized baseball league. In its first year of operation, the league supported itself by occasionally charging fans for admission. The future looked very bright."

"The early 1860s, however were a time of great turmoil in the United States. In those years of the Civil War, the number of baseball clubs dropped dramatically, but interest in baseball was carried to other parts of the country by Union soldiers, and when the war ended there were more people playing baseball than ever before. The league's annual convention in 1868 drew delegates from over 100 clubs. As the league grew, so did the expenses of playing. Charging admission to games started to become more common, and teams often had to seek out donations or sponsors to make trips. In order for teams to get the financial support they needed, winning became very important. Although the league was supposed to be comprised of amateurs, many players were secretly paid. Some were given jobs by sponsors, and some were secretly paid a salary just for playing. In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings decided to become a completely professional team. Brothers Harry and George Wright recruited the best players from around the country, and beat all comers. The Cincinnati team won sixty-five games and lost none. The idea of paid players quickly caught on. Some wanted baseball to remain an amateur endeavor, but there was no way they could compete with the professional teams. The amateur teams began to fade away as the best players became professionals. In 1871, the National Association became the first professional baseball league."

Ex Mattatuck Historical Society, Matthies and Houser. Illustrated in Rohloff book. With 1990 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY STRIKE OF THE WATERBURY MAN SMOKING PIPE FANCY CANCEL. THIS IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN DATE OF THE TEN RECORDED COVERS AND ARGUABLY THE FINEST STRIKE EXTANT.

William T. Crowe records ten covers, used between Aug. 23 and Dec. 25, 1867. This cover emerged from the Cooke correspondence in the 1980's and was offered for the first and only time in our Sale 651, Sept. 11, 1985, lot 338. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A SUPERB STRIKE OF THE BRIDGEPORT FIREMAN FANCY CANCEL OF WATERBURY. ONLY SIXTEEN COVERS ARE RECORDED.

This cancel was inspired by the annual Bridgeport Fireman's Parade through Waterbury. William T. Crowe records sixteen covers with this cancel, used between Apr. 25 and June 3, 1866. The earliest recorded usage was the previous day, April 25.

Ex Mattatuck Historical Society. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE WATERBURY SKULL AND CROSSBONES FANCY CANCEL. ONE OF ONLY TEN COVERS RECORDED.

William T. Crowe records ten covers with this cancel, used between Apr. 13 and Apr. 18, 1866.

Ex Mattatuck Historical Society, Matthies and Houser. With 1990 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS WATERBURY FANCY CANCEL. ONLY NINE COVERS ARE RECORDED. THIS IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN DATE, AND THE ONLY COVER USED ON THIS DAY.

William T. Crowe records only nine covers, used between Sep. 21 and Oct. 9, 1865. Ex Mattatuck Historical Society and Haas. With 1990 P.F. certificate. (Image)