Auction Item Details
Lot 27
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Lot Number: 27
Description: 1890 and 1891 Jake Virtue Cleveland Spiders player's contracts - among the earliest to have surfaced. Pair of contracts as issued to player Jacob Virtue are among the earliest surviving Major League examples to have entered the marketplace. The 1890 contract is dated July 14th and has been signed by team owner F.D.H. Robinson and secretary Davis Hawley. The 1891 is dated October 1st and is signed by Hawley, Robert Leadley, and Virtue himself ("Jacob K. Virtue"). All signatures are done in period ink rating 8 to 9 out of 10. Both documents are lightly toned with general handling and age related wear. The 1890 has some splits along the fold lines and a few creases. Wear to the 1891 contract is more pronounced with more substantial splits and some additional minor chipping. A significant pair of documents from the formative years of the National League related to one of their more prominent teams. Includes auction LOA from JSA and letter of provenance from the Virtue Family: Sigs. NM, Contracts FR/GD and GDEstimated Price Range: ($2,000-$4,000)
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