Jewish Lithographer Civil War Soldiers Playing Baseball Stationery.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015

A great baseball related printed letter sheet produced by the firm of famed Jewish lithographer Louis N. Rosenthal, Philadelphia. This is perhaps the very first piece of American stationery depicting Union soldiers playing baseball. Amazingly, this lithograph has it all by showing Union soldiers at play in Camp Doubleday which, of course, was named after the game's creator Abner Doubleday! Rosenthal copyrighted this letter sheet in 1862 and the scene's full title, reads, in full: "HEAD QUARTERS, 76th REGt. N. Y. S. V. CAMP DOUBLEDAY, Lieut. Col. John D. Shaul, commanding." This Union officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., was written by Capt. Aaron Sager, [WIA Gainesville, Va., Second Bull Run Campaign, 8/28/62], Co. G, 76th New York Vols., [n. p., n. d., but defenses of Washington, ca. February 1862], reading, in part: "…my pay amounted to $464.33. The government still owes me…nearly $40…I was very much pleased…to receive a note from Adjt. Robinson who is at head quarters (Fort Massachusetts) stating that I was commissioned as captain…James L. Goddard [WIA Gainesville, Va., 8/28/62 & Cold Harbor, Va., 6/03/64] my 1st Lieut., Thomas Simms [DOD 12/26/62] 2 Lieut. The boys seem to be well pleased…I think I have earned the position…it will be gratifying to me to come home…not any lower in position than when I started in the cause of my country…I have not become familiar enough with my new title to recognize it…calls of captain are frequently unnoticed…I hope I will not disgrace my position. Tom Simms is very much elated. He is a good man…his first remark…was that it would make the folks at home feel good meaning his new wife. I think he is a reformed man. The heading of my letter gives you a good representation of Fort Manassas which…is the headquarters of the Regt. You will notice a fort in the distance at the right…which is Fort Slocum under whose earth walls your truly is writing…your interests are mine. I economize for you and baby. You will be surprised to find how cheap I have lived since we have been at Washington…kiss Pa, Pa. Husband. Don't forget the address, Capt. A. Sager, Co. G, 76 Regt. N. Y. S. V., Washington, DC…". Mild toning, else VG. Sager (1834-1901) of Courtland, New York joined the 76th New York Vols. (Courtland County Regiment) in January 1862 as a twenty-seven-year-old first lieutenant of Company G. He was seriously wounded in action during the battle of Second Bull Run, Va. on August 28, 1862. He was commended for gallantry during the battle and was discharged for disability from these wounds on March 12, 1863. He literally "dropped dead" in his Syracuse, New York drug store on Dec. 7, 1901.

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