Historic & Vintage Photography
Guaranteed Authenticity of Every Item
Industry's Lowest Buyer's Premium

Lot # 8: 1917 Honus Wagner, "Passing the Torch as Pirates Shortstop" Artistic Masterpiece

Starting Bid: $25.00

Bids: 21 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "July Collectors Auction 2021",
which ran from 7/6/2021 1:00 AM to
7/17/2021 8:00 PM



Following the 1916 baseball season, Honus Wagner was ready to give up his spot at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team had his replacement in Chuck Ward, and the torch was passed. The offered double exposure photograph captures this moment in an artistic way, like few baseball images that have ever been offered. The image of a young and spry Chuck Ward, leaping for a high one, is set in front of a double exposed image of the great Honus Wagner himself, sitting on a bench and perched in the background. The photo offered here is the only known example of this image we have ever seen and it is likely the only one that has survived over the last 100+ years. While art was sometimes interjected into baseball photography before WWII, it was rarely sought after by the men behind the lens to create something with meaning, just by looking at it. This is perhaps the first image in which an artistic double exposure was ever used in sports photography and it captures one of the greatest players of all time! Photo is creased and has some pinholes from editorial use, but it otherwise presents beautifully. NOTE: PSA treats composite or double exposure images different than we do. We consider works like this, done by the photographer and with this finished product being his intent, as "vintage 1" examples.

Size: 8x10
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 2/5
Quality: 4/5
Overall Grade: 6/10

Views: 431