This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/25/2012
"The Spirit of the Times: A Chronicle of the Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage" was an American weekly newspaper published in New York City beginning in 1831. Founded by William T. Porter and his brothers, the newspaper sought an upper-class readership, stating in one issue that the Spirit was "designed to promote the views and interests of but an infinitesimal division of those classes of society composing the great mass..." The offered edition, published on Saturday, December 27, 1856, is of particular interest to baseball historians in that it offers, on page 276, a detailed expose on "Base Ball-How They Play the Game in New England" along with a diagram showing the positions of the players (referred to as "thrower," "striker," "catcher" and "scout"). Overall condition is tremendous considering the age of the periodical, with some separation of the pages from the center binding but no visible rips or tears on any of the pages.