Heritage Auctions is preparing for its highly anticipated Platinum Night Sale, and one of the most exceptional items up for auction is a rare poster from the 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour. This artifact, one of only two known surviving posters, showcases a significant moment in baseball history and is expected to generate significant interest among collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The poster, measuring 42 inches by 28 inches, is being hailed as the “most astonishing eight square feet of paper” ever presented at a Heritage Auctions event. It features images resembling those found on Old Judge and N284 Buchner Gold Coin cards and depicts players who participated in the tour, including renowned baseball figures such as Cap Anson, John Montgomery Ward, and Ned Hanlon, who would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour was an ambitious project masterminded by Albert G. Spalding, a baseball legend and the founder of Spalding Sporting Goods. Spalding’s goal was to promote baseball globally, and he organized a barnstorming tour featuring the Chicago White Stockings and an All America team composed by Spalding himself after the conclusion of the 1888 season.
The tour spanned various countries and territories, including the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawaii), New Zealand, Ceylon (currently Sri Lanka), Egypt, Italy, France, England, and several cities in Australia like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Ballarat. This endeavor was not only an extraordinary logistical feat but also a significant moment in the early professionalization of baseball.
Albert Spalding invested $30,000 of his own money into the tour and even gained the endorsement of President Grover Cleveland. The tour’s success showcased the global appeal of baseball and solidified its status as America’s game, generating widespread attention and culminating in a grand banquet at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City upon the teams’ return.
Beyond its historical significance, the poster also offers collectors the chance to own a tangible piece of baseball’s storied past. With a pre-sale estimate of $100,000, this rare artifact represents a unique opportunity for passionate collectors to add to their collection and preserve a remarkable chapter in baseball history.
Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night Sale will feature nearly 2,800 items, covering a wide range of baseball memorabilia from the era of Old Judge cards to the modern exploits of players like Aaron Judge. However, the 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour poster stands out as one of the key lots, given its rarity and undeniable historical value. The fact that one copy of the poster resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame further emphasizes its significance.
As the auction approaches, collectors and baseball enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the opportunity to bid on this extraordinary piece of baseball history. The poster’s presence in the auction serves as a reminder of the global impact and enduring legacy of America’s favorite pastime.
