Sports Philately Appraisal

1939 Baseball Centenary First Day Cover

This item is a 1939 First Day Cover commemorating the 'Centenary of Baseball 1839-1939'. It consists of a white envelope, approximately 6.5 inches by 3.5 inches, featuring a printed design on the left side and postage stamps with an address on the right. The design portrays a baseball player in a batting stance within a semi-circular frame, alongside the text 'CENTENARY of BASEBALL 1839 1939'. Below this graphic, a block of descriptive text recounts the purported origins of baseball, mentioning Cooperstown, NY, 1839, and the actual establishment in 1845 by the Knickerbocker Club of New York, providing historical context for the centenary. On the right side of the envelope, there is a block of four purple 3-cent United States Postage stamps, likely featuring a baseball scene. Overlying these stamps and the envelope is a circular postmark from 'COOPERSTOWN JUN 12 9-AM 1939 N.Y.', confirming its first-day issue status from the official dedication locale of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The address 'F. K. Priddy, M.D., 96 State St., Wethersfield, Connecticut' is neatly typed below the stamps. The envelope shows some signs of age, including slight yellowish discoloration consistent with paper from the 1930s, and minor corner wear. The printing is clear, and the stamps are well-adhered. This item displays characteristic features of a philatelic collectible, combining postal history with a significant cultural event.