4 Extraordinary c.1910 Reach Co. Baseball Tin Litho Advertising Sign The A.J. Reach Co. of Philadelphia produced some of the finest tin lithograph advertising signs during an era when such signs were in their “golden age;” they were typically well-designed and colorful, and of exceptionally high quality. The signs are in considerably high demand today, and typically do not make themselves available for sale with any regularity. When they do, there are several different designs that are typically seen; this is not one of them. Bold and impactful, the sign advertises the Official baseball of the American League, a distinction the Reach brand maintained from the inception of the league until 1975 (even after the company’s 1934 sale to Spalding). The sign was manufactured by the American Art Works, an Ohio-based manufacturer of beer trays and advertising novelties best known for manufacturing the Coca-Cola advertising trays favored by collectors today. The industry leader, the company was so strong that their home city of Coshocton became an economic hub, even through the Great Depression. Today, their products are highly desirable among advertising collectors, part of the reason the Reach sporting goods advertising items are so seldom found. The extremely high production value is part of the reason this 6” x 13” sign has remained in such outstanding condition, though these advertising signs are typically found today with considerablewear and rust. In this case, a fewsurface abrasions can be noted throughout, along with some very minor bends to the tin (very typical for this type of item) and some minor blemishes, but the overall display value is superb. Clean and
bright, the wear is secondary to its rarity, as the corners, edges, and overall aesthetic appeal of this piece are tremendous, among the strongest of the few examples we have managed to locate in past public sales. The reverse remains in outstanding condition with minor abrasions, its original hanging cord intact, along with its printed message to retailers: “This sign is one of a series and costs us big money to have them made...if for any reason, you do not care to hang it up kindly return it to us and we will put it to work elsewhere.” One of the hobby’s finest and most important tin lithographic baseball pieces. MINIMUM BID: $3,000.00
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