1880s Baseball Game Woven Silk Stevengraph Picture

Exceptionally rare and beautiful, Baseball Subject circa. 1880s Stevengraph, Woven Silk Picture of a Baseball Game The First Over. This outstanding, Woven Silk Baseball Scene measures approx. 5 7/8″ by 2 1/8″ and is mounted in its original, manufacturer’s printed paperboard matt and card mount (overall size of mount is approx. 8″ by 5 1/4″). The Woven Silk and its card mount are framed for display in a period wood frame (the overall size of the framed display is 9 3/4″ by 6 5/8″). The printed title below the Image reads “The First Over” and pictures a Baseball Game in progress with the pitcher delivering a ball to the batter and runners advancing on the base paths. There are a number of American flags surrounding the field and a crowd of spectators in the grandstands. There is the additional text below the matt opening that reads “Woven in Silk By Thomas Stevens Inventor and manufacturer Coventry and London [Registered]”. This Stevengraph is identified by collectors as “STG174” and “st 196′. This Stevengraph is among the most highly sought-after and also among the rarest. It first appeared listed on label 19 (ca1800) and was soon discontinued thus it is only found on the type B card mount as seen here. In 1862 Thomas Stevens successfully adapted the Jacquard loom to produce. The last sale of a similar piece was $1600.00 in 2020.