Great American Posters .com
Classic Works of American Illustration
19th Century Sports - Illustrated with Colorful Lithography
Long before the advent of radio and TV, the public had a thirst for seeing what was going on in the world beyond their front porch. While sports were not covered by illustrators and lithographers to the same extent as road shows or the Civil War, there were, nonetheless, a handful of artists rising to the call.
About our watermark on the images: Each of the images in this collection has been painstakingly restored, some taking as much as several hours of work. Visitors are welcome to use these images by grabbing them from this site, but we want their audience to know the source. The print you purchase will not have a watermark.
Prints of these images are available in various sizes and formats.
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VS-101 1915 Philadelphia Baseball Schedule
This clever poster shows the season schedule for Philadelphia teams. Published by A. M. J. Mueller, 2314 Poplar Street, Philadelphia in March, 1915. Print sizes: 40x50, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
This clever poster shows the season schedule for Philadelphia teams. Published by A. M. J. Mueller, 2314 Poplar Street, Philadelphia in March, 1915. Print sizes: 40x50, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VA-102 Generic Baseball Scene - 1895
The Calvert Lithography Company of Detroit, produced some of the finest examples of late 19th Century lithos. Most often their subject was entertainers, traveling shows and the like. This print appears to be a general purpose poster for promoting the sport. Baseball was a developing sport in the late 1800's. Here we can see that the modern protocol for the plate had been established by 1895 with protective gear for catcher and umpire positioned behind the catcher. In the early days of baseball, players did not use gloves. Print sizes: 40x50, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
The Calvert Lithography Company of Detroit, produced some of the finest examples of late 19th Century lithos. Most often their subject was entertainers, traveling shows and the like. This print appears to be a general purpose poster for promoting the sport. Baseball was a developing sport in the late 1800's. Here we can see that the modern protocol for the plate had been established by 1895 with protective gear for catcher and umpire positioned behind the catcher. In the early days of baseball, players did not use gloves. Print sizes: 40x50, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-107 - Bowling Alley 1893
H. Schile & Sons Lithography, 269 Bowery, New York created this litho for reasons that are not recorded, probably for general use in promoting the sport. Print sizes: 40x50, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
H. Schile & Sons Lithography, 269 Bowery, New York created this litho for reasons that are not recorded, probably for general use in promoting the sport. Print sizes: 40x50, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-108 "A Carom on the Chandelier" - 1882
Carom Billiards is played on a pocketless table. The object of the game is to carom your cue ball off your opponent's cue ball and an object ball in the same shot. The purpose of this litho is the telling of a funny story. Print sizes: 30x40, 24x32, 18x24, 16x20.
Carom Billiards is played on a pocketless table. The object of the game is to carom your cue ball off your opponent's cue ball and an object ball in the same shot. The purpose of this litho is the telling of a funny story. Print sizes: 30x40, 24x32, 18x24, 16x20.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-115 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1909
"The Geatest Race Course in the World."
This poster is pretty effective in its objective of conveying the excitement of the race and the enthusiasm of the crowd. Litho by the Otis Lithograph Company of Cleveland and New York. Print sizes: 24x32, 18x24, 12x16.
"The Geatest Race Course in the World."
This poster is pretty effective in its objective of conveying the excitement of the race and the enthusiasm of the crowd. Litho by the Otis Lithograph Company of Cleveland and New York. Print sizes: 24x32, 18x24, 12x16.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-104 Four Jockeys - 1892
Here, the artist has captured speed and excitement. The horses have expression, which is cool. It is interesting that the fourth jockey is black. It turns out that black jockeys were not uncommon in the first couple of decades after the Civil War, but less common with the advent of Jim Crow. The jockey who holds the record to this day for the highest percentage of wins was a black man from Kentucky named Isaac Burns Murphy. Litho by Calvert Lithography Co., Detroit. Print sizes: 48x72, 40x60, 32x48, 24x36, 20x30, 16x24, 12x18.
Here, the artist has captured speed and excitement. The horses have expression, which is cool. It is interesting that the fourth jockey is black. It turns out that black jockeys were not uncommon in the first couple of decades after the Civil War, but less common with the advent of Jim Crow. The jockey who holds the record to this day for the highest percentage of wins was a black man from Kentucky named Isaac Burns Murphy. Litho by Calvert Lithography Co., Detroit. Print sizes: 48x72, 40x60, 32x48, 24x36, 20x30, 16x24, 12x18.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-125 The Flying Merkel
In 1902, Joe Merkel was designing
motorcycle engines in Pottstown, PA. In 1903, he built his first motorcycle with a 316 cc engine. In 1908 he started the Light Manufacturing and Foundry company and sold cycles under the name “Merkel Light.” In 1911, Miami Cycle and Manufacturing Company in Middletown, Ohio took over and marketed the cycle as the “Flying Merkel.” Indian motorcycles were produced inSpringfield, Massachusetts starting in1901. The Harley Davidson company was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee. Print sizes: 16x24, 12z18
In 1902, Joe Merkel was designing
motorcycle engines in Pottstown, PA. In 1903, he built his first motorcycle with a 316 cc engine. In 1908 he started the Light Manufacturing and Foundry company and sold cycles under the name “Merkel Light.” In 1911, Miami Cycle and Manufacturing Company in Middletown, Ohio took over and marketed the cycle as the “Flying Merkel.” Indian motorcycles were produced inSpringfield, Massachusetts starting in1901. The Harley Davidson company was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee. Print sizes: 16x24, 12z18
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-110 Trout Fishing - 1903
This well-to-do couple is enjoying a an outdoor experience for which they are equipped with the latest styles in outdoor gear. Neither the artist nor the lithographer is recorded, which is a shame because they did a beautiful job. It looks like and ad for Abercrombie and Fitch Print sizes: 40x50, 36x45, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
This well-to-do couple is enjoying a an outdoor experience for which they are equipped with the latest styles in outdoor gear. Neither the artist nor the lithographer is recorded, which is a shame because they did a beautiful job. It looks like and ad for Abercrombie and Fitch Print sizes: 40x50, 36x45, 32x40, 24x30, 16x20, 12x16.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-128 "Bicycling" 1887
Artist Henry "Hy" Sandham painted this scene in watercolors, which were then beautifully reproduced by Prang of Boston. Prang specialized in (among other things) printing water color artworks and referred to them as "aquarelle prints." Possible print sizes: 36x48, 30x40, 24x32, 18x24, 12x16,
Artist Henry "Hy" Sandham painted this scene in watercolors, which were then beautifully reproduced by Prang of Boston. Prang specialized in (among other things) printing water color artworks and referred to them as "aquarelle prints." Possible print sizes: 36x48, 30x40, 24x32, 18x24, 12x16,
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-122 Lawn Tennis - 1887
Another "aquarelle" print by Hy Sandham and Prang. Print sizes: 36x48, 30x40, 24x32, 18x24, 12x16,
Another "aquarelle" print by Hy Sandham and Prang. Print sizes: 36x48, 30x40, 24x32, 18x24, 12x16,
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-105 Seven Cyclists - 1897
Bicycle racing was one of America's most popular competitive sports in the 1890's. Litho by the Strobridge Lithography Company of Cincinnati. Print sizes: 48x72, 40x60, 32x48, 24x36, 20x30, 16x24, 12x18.
Bicycle racing was one of America's most popular competitive sports in the 1890's. Litho by the Strobridge Lithography Company of Cincinnati. Print sizes: 48x72, 40x60, 32x48, 24x36, 20x30, 16x24, 12x18.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-103 First Intercollegiate Football Game
This poster was produced by Currier & Ives in 1930 to commemorate the first Intercollegiate Championship football game, which pitted Yale against Princeton in 1886. Artist Everett Henry made it look, at least to the modern viewer, more like a brawl than a football game, which could explain why the final score was only 2-0, Yale. Print sizes: 24x36, 20x30, 16x24, 12x18.
This poster was produced by Currier & Ives in 1930 to commemorate the first Intercollegiate Championship football game, which pitted Yale against Princeton in 1886. Artist Everett Henry made it look, at least to the modern viewer, more like a brawl than a football game, which could explain why the final score was only 2-0, Yale. Print sizes: 24x36, 20x30, 16x24, 12x18.
Click on Image to enlarge.
VS-113 Baseball Polka
This poster actually promotes sheet music for a polka by James M. Goodman. However it does provide a view of baseball as it was played in 1867. Print sizes: 18x24, 12x16.
This poster actually promotes sheet music for a polka by James M. Goodman. However it does provide a view of baseball as it was played in 1867. Print sizes: 18x24, 12x16.
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