This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/7/2022
Baseball pioneer Al Reach founded a sporting goods company that bore his name in the 1880s, and his products were used by professional ballplayers of the period as well as the American League. One of the ways he promoted his wares was with tin litho advertising signs which were sent to sporting goods stores that sold his products. The offered tin litho touts the Reach Ball as The Official Ball of the American League with raised lettering and an embossed image of the sphere. This example has met with some water damage at some point in its life and has had some holes drilled for mounting but it is still a very early period advertising piece that has been saved from being carelessly discarded by an old shop owner. The company took its efforts very seriously as evidenced from the printed message on the reverse of these signs (this one is partially illegible due to water damage): "This sign is one of a series and cost us big money to have them made. They are for our mutual benefit, and if you will take the trouble to see that it is displayed in a good place we know that it will increase your sales of Reach Sporting Goods. If, for any reason you do not care to hang it up, kindly return it to us and we will put it to use elsewhere. A.J. Reach Company, Philadelphia, Pa."