Exceedingly scarce and important 1903 World Series ticket...

Exceedingly scarce and important 1903 World Series ticket (at Pittsburgh) - newly discovered example. The World Series has served as Major League Baseball’s championship contest since the early 20th Century with its origins tracing back to 1903. The Boston Americans met the Pittsburgh Pirates that year after the close of their regular seasons in what was then a best-of-nine series. This first matchup helped establish the concept of a postseason and laid the foundation for one of America’s most enduring sporting traditions. Substantive original material related to the contest is both highly desirable and in very short supply with the available pool largely relegated to a handful of programs and ticket stubs. The offered example is newly discovered and now being offered publicly for the first time. It is particularly noteworthy in that it appears to be a full ticket with “Rain Check” portion firmly affixed to the “W4” stub on left. Printed on text relays that it was “Good for any game of series provided four and a half innings are played” thus it is presumed that the “W4” designation related to a seating area. “World’s Championship Series” titling appears above “Boston” and “Pittsburg” team names with the later a common spelling of the period (and in fact it was held as standard by the federal government from 1891 to 1911). Facsimile signature of Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss is at lower right. While technical grade falls at PR level (due to a trio of pin/tack holes and some creases/wrinkles) the visual appeal far exceeds that level when viewed from the front. The ticket was recently discovered in an old leather wallet/billfold which will be included along with a number of pieces of ephemera related to train travel. While the majority of these are undated a handful of pieces have years ranging from 1904 through 1922 on the back. The offered Pittsburgh World Series variant is believed to be one of less than five known examples one of which documented within the Pittsburgh Pirates archives although the physical ticket is no longer present. Along with the 1903 World Series program at Pittsburgh the tickets of the same venue stand without equal as the most highly coveted within their respective mediums. It has been examined by Frank Romano (Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology & President, Museum of Printing) and report detailing his findings will be included fully confirming the ticket to be authentic and dating to the 1904 time period. For contextual accuracy, we pass along that while PSA/DNA is not declining the authenticity of the ticket itself they do not currently encapsulate the 1903 World Series tickets at Boston or Pittsburgh by matter of submission policy for certain ticket of this time period. Hunt Auctions fully guarantees the offered ticket to have been issued in the period as relating to the 1903 World Series. A remarkable and highly significant offering with desirable period accompanying supportive materials of provenance. Includes letter of authenticity from Frank Romano and the accompanying leather billfold with related tickets/passes: PR-VG

Estimate:£37,548.25

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