Auction #7 - February 2021
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This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2021
Charles Gross & Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania issued what would become very popular and very valuable cards in their "Kalamazoo Bats" product. Splitting time between Base Ball players and Actresses, the Kalamazoo Bats cards number in the hundreds of subjects. The Base Ball cards are cataloged under the N690 classification, total 62 known subjects, and are sized the same as the N657 Actress cards--2-3/16" Wide by 4 -3/16" High. The cards are albumen photos adhered to a cardboard backing in larger sheets and then cut apart to be inserted into what is apparently larger boxes of Kalamazoo Bats Cigars or Cigarros. They were offered 4 for ten cents, so they were likely some type of cigarro product.

The N657 actress series can be found as a member of four different groups which fall largely under the classifications based on the advertising banner at the bottom, the actress name and its location and other characteristics. The cards can be found with or without advertising on the back of the cards. The advertising is for a redemption offer upon return of the cards to Charles Gross whereupon other products like pipes or umbrellas or other goods can be exchanged. This redemption offer may explain why the actual cards are so difficult to obtain and valuable as a result.

This lot of (85) N657 Kalamazoo Bats actress cards are outlined below by type of classification and fall into (4) different with an additional group of a couple subjects that are difficult to put into one of those categories. This is, without a doubt, the largest single collection or holding of these cards that have ever been offered at public auction. The cards typically are found and gathered one at a time and generally sell in the $150 per card range up to more than $200-$300 each depending on who the subject is, which advanced collectors need the card, the condition of the card as well as the photo clarity.

This lot of (85) cards runs the gamut in condition from Poor to EX or better with the vast majority of them being in the VG to EX range. There are very few that have any significant issues and the vast majority of them have average to above average photo clarity. This offers a turnkey collection of these cards at a reasonable opening bid.

All (85) cards have been scanned both front and back in large format for close inspection.

Type 1 - 18 cards
  • Mlle. Aimee, Paris (redemption offer back)
  • Belmont, Walde & Irving
  • Mlle. Carmien, Paris (redemption offer back, #824 shown in image)
  • Mlle. Clemence, Paris
  • Mlle, Destrie, Paris (redemption offer back)
  • Mlle. Dreiber, Paris
  • Lily Elton
  • Mlle. Feizer, Paris
  • Mlle. Hampton, Paris (redemption offer back, # 764 shown in image)
  • Mlle. Harryet, Paris
  • Mlle. Lafleur, Paris
  • Melville
  • Mlle. Myrrher, Paris (2 different images)
  • Mlle. Renain, Paris
  • Mlle. Rinaldi, Paris
  • Mlle. Rouvier, Paris
  • Veronia

    Type 2 - 12 cards (2 cards have number preceding name)
  • Annie Brevoor - redemption offer back - SGC 50 VG/EX 4
  • Eckhardt
  • 136 Miss Florentine
  • Miss Frowbridge
  • Miss Grant
  • Miss Kerker
  • Miss Leicester
  • Lester
  • Pauline Markham
  • Mabel Mitchell
  • 400 Mortimer (redemption offer back)
  • Jennie Prince
  • Matie Vickers

    Type 3 - 22 cards total (divided into 2 separate groups)
    Group I with name written in field of photo - 14 cards
  • Nellie DeSortes
  • Miss Fuller
  • Kellogg
  • Menzetta
  • Meyers
  • Miss Mortimer
  • Nielson
  • Miss Robinson (2 different images)
  • Grace Seavey
  • Josie Slater
  • Ruth Stetson
  • Kate Wort
  • Zola

    Group II with name printed at base of image - 8 cards
    Alphonsene
  • Kittie Ezeltine (2 different images)
  • Anna Hillier
  • Lena LaMont
  • Lizzie Payne
  • Fannie Prestige
  • Tillie Russell

    Type 4 - 26 cards
  • A Night In Venice
  • Ida Bell
  • Laura Burt (interesting old writing on back dated Aug. 14, '88 possibly from original owner)
  • De Rosa
  • Selina Dolaro ("Olivette")
  • Lily Elton (3 different images, 1 of which is same as Type 1)
  • Mollie Fuller
  • Miss Harold
  • Vernona Jarbeau (2 different images)
  • Vernona Jarbeau (3rd different image) - PSA Good 2 (MK)
  • Lulu Kerker
  • Jennie Lee (2 different images)
  • Rosa Lee
  • Pauline Markham - SGC 60 EX 5
  • Ruby Melville
  • Edith Merrill
  • Lizzie Payne (same image as Type 3)
  • Clara Robertson
  • Seven Ravens (2 different images) - 1 ungraded, 1 PSA EX 5 (MK), holder states Type 2 but this is wrong
  • Annie Somerville
  • Flora Walsh
  • Eliza Weathersby
  • Lizzie Winner
  • Polly Winner
  • Unknown Actress - Not Named

    Type ? - 2 cards (unsure what type this pair of cards belong in)
  • Louise Paullin
  • Grace Wilson




























































    • N657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at AuctionN657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at Auction
    N657 Kalamazoo Bats Incredible Lot of (85) Different Actress Cards - The Largest Assemblage Ever Offered at Auction
    Click above for larger image.
    Bidding
    Current Bidding
    Minimum Bid: $6,000.00
    Final prices include buyers premium: $9,796.20
    Number Bids: 7
    Auction closed on Sunday, February 28, 2021.
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