Postcards & Ephemera

1903-07

LEATHER POSTCARD FEATURING WOMAN WITH BASKETBALL

Leather postcards were a popular novelty during the golden age of postcards in the early 1900s. First produced in 1903, they were typically made from thin deer hide and decorated using a burning technique called pyrography (pokerwork), along with colored ink and dyes. The leather postcard fad was short-lived. By 1907, the United States Postal Service began banning them because they jammed sorting machines and postage stamps were difficult to adhere to them. Leather postcards featuring sports, especially basketball, are quite rare.

1905-06

1905-06

1905-07

1905-07

POSTCARD FEATURING THE ARCTIC BROTHERHOOD BASKETBALL TEAM OF NOME, ALASKA

The Arctic Brotherhood was established in 1899 on the Steamboat Seattle bound for Alaska. It was a fraternal organization by gold-seeking stampeders. Eventually 32 camps were established in Alaska; and at its height, the Arctic Brotherhood boasted some 10,000 members. The Arctic Brotherhood teamed up with the YMCA of Nome and their basketball team toured extensively the lower states, territories, and Canada in the winter of 1907. There are newspaper articles that mention the upcoming games, but I can't find history on the team's performance.

circa 1907

1907

1907

1908

1908-10

POSTCARDS FEATURING VICTORIAN ERA WOMEN PLAYING BASKETBALL

This classic image was used on postcards and at least 2 known trade cards (Jules Macors of Belgium & Joaquin Maranes of Spain). One of the examples here has a "Valentine Greeting added to the front in professional gold calligraphy. Note the difference of the reverse sides of the postcard, these seem to have been manufactured by many different makers.

POSTCARD FEATURING A CIRCA 1895 PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM

According to the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center, this postcard came in two versions, the difference being in the tone and type of the printing, with this particular postcard listed as Version 2. It's release date is noted as circa 1910. It features a photograph, that is also in their database, titled "Male students preparing to begin game of basketball", and dated circa 1895. The front of the postcard reads "Gymnasium, all Indians except instructor".

The Carlisle Indian School formed in 1879 with a mission to "civilize" Native American children and gained fame for it's football program and star athlete Jim Thorpe, the winner of two Olympic gold medals at Antwerp in 1912. The school was also an early adopter of the game of basketball. James Naismith, the game’s inventor, mentioned the same Carlisle basketball team in his book, Basketball: Its Origins and Development. “Carlisle was the first Indian school to play basketball,” Naismith noted, “but the success that it met with there showed that the game was especially adapted to Indian youth.”

Link to Resource Center Postcard Info and Image HERE

Link to Resource Center Photograph Info and Image HERE

circa 1910

MARCH 17th, 1910 THE YOUTH'S COMPANION (NEW ENGLAND EDITION) FEATURING WILLIAMS COLLEGE & MT. HOLYOKE BASKETBALL TEAMS

The 1910 Williams College Varsity Team on the cover is the team used on the 1st Murad College Series Basketball Card (Williams College)

CIRCA 1910 WALTON SHOE PORTZ BROTHERS COMPANY INK BLOTTER

1910

1910

1910

1910

1910

ARCHIE GUNN ILLUSTRATED POSTCARD, WOMAN WITH BASKETBALL AT WAIST

1905-1915

1911-1915

1915-20

1910-15

1912

HAMILTON KING BASKETBALL GIRL ILLUSTRATION BLOTTER, POSTCARD & GREETING CARD

1914

c 1910-1915 YWCA & YMCA POSTER "CINDERELLA" STAMPS (U.S.A.)

c 1918 YWCA WW1 WAR BOND "CINDERELLA" POSTER STAMPS STRIP WITH CENTER STAMP FEATURING BASKETBALL (U.S.A.)

Although this strip of images is unperforated, an inquiry with poster stamp collectors and sellers has confirmed that these are indeed poster stamps, determined by the print quality, method of printing and how a stamp like this would be produced. These images were also featured on large posters that promoted the YWCA's "Girl Reserves". Amid the era’s patriotic fervor, the Girl Reserves sought to share popular educational, vocational, and recreational activities—like basketball — with young women and girls. The “reserve” was open to girls ages 12–18 who wanted to participate in the war effort, whether through food conservation. war bond sales, and, yes, basketball. Measurements of stamp strip: 4.5" x 2"

c 1910-1920 WICHITA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS POSTER "CINDERELLA" BASKETBALL STAMP (U.S.A.)

This poster stamp was published by McCormick Armstrong Press of Wichita and featured a Basketball player at Wichita High School. The school had great success in early basketball, winning the state title in 1915 and the national title in 1925. The school changed it's name to Wichita East in 1929.

Cinderella (Poster) stamps were produced and distributed to promote products & services (in this case the Y.W.C.A. and the Y.M.C.A.) and were not issued to be used for postage fees.

circa 1910-1920

1926-28

1916-18

BASKET-BALL LICENSES FOR PLAYERS OF THE FRENCH ATHLETICS FEDERATION (FRANCE)

These early French examples of athletic licenses were required in most European countries in order to participate in club or league play. Players with these licenses would need to follow all athletic and basketball code established by the federation.

1920s

1918-25

1918-25

1918-25

CLUB GES CHAMPION DE PARIS, SECOND TEAM OF THE 1ST AND BASKETBALL DIVISION OF HONOR POSTCARD

Basketball wasn't an official Olympic event until 1936, but it was played as an unofficial exhibition event at the 1924 Summer Olympics as part of the Jeux de L'Enfance, an accompanying youth sports competition. Teams represented different cities and clubs in France, as well as overseas YMCA chapters. Club GES, pictured here, finished 2nd in the 1st Division d'Honneur. Although basketball wasn't recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an official demonstration sport in 1924, the matches were included in the Official Report of the Games.

1924

M. SOLOMON COOPERAGE "BASKET BALL BUGS" INK BLOTTER

1926

THE 3rd MEIJI SHRINE GAMES POSTCARD FEATURING BASKETBALL (JAPAN)

The Meiji Shrine Games were a national sporting event held in Japan 14 times between 1924 and 1943. This postcard features the 3rd games in 1926, where a federation to promote women's sports was formed, because of the liberal-democratic tendencies of the late Taisho and early Showa periods. Over 200 female athletes competed in a variety of sports, including basketball. The photo inserted is Kano Jigoro, professor and headmaster at the Tokyo University of Education, inventor of Judo, and the first Japanese (and first Asian) member of the International Olympic Committee. Measurements: 3.5" x 5.5"

1926

1920s (Japan)

1920s (Japan)

1920s (Japan)

FIRST DAY COVER WITH 10th FAR EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES STAMPS, THE FIRST STAMP TO EVER FEATURE BASKETBALL (PHILIPPINES)

Released on April 14th, 1934, the world's first basketball stamp commemorated the X Far Eastern Championship Games, a precursor to the Asian Games. The Games were held in Manila from May 16–20, 1934, and included competitors from China, Japan, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines. Eight sports were contested, with baseball, basketball, and tennis selected for depiction on postage stamps. There is occasional debate over whether the Philippines or the United States should be credited with issuing the first basketball stamp. At the time, the Philippines was under U.S. sovereignty following the Treaty of Paris, in which Spain ceded the colony to the United States after the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Philippines did not gain full independence until 1946. Despite this, the stamps were issued locally and identify the Philippines as the issuing authority.

1934

'PLAY TODAY AT THE YMCA' INK BLOTTER

circa 1930s

"THIS IS AMERICA" BASKETBALL CINDERELLA POSTER STAMP

The "This is America" series featured 99 poster stamps that celebrated American history and heritage, showcasing illustrations of historical figures, institutions, holidays, landmarks and sports. There was 1 stamp in the set that featured basketball. The stamps were printed in blue on a white background, with a variation printed in purple on a blue background.

circa 1930s

OFFICIAL OLYMPIC PHOTO POSTCARD ISSUED BY REICHSSPORTVERLAG, ITALY VS POLAND BASKETBALL MATCH

This is an unused real photo postcard from the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It features a moment from a match between Italy and Poland. It is marked “Official Olympic Postcard” by Reichssportverlag (Reich Sports Publishing HouseI in Berlin. The publishing house was founded during the Nazi era on the occasion of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. It published numerous sports books and sports magazines, including the Olympia Zeitung, the official newspaper of the Olympic games.

Measurements: 3.5” 5.5"

1936

GULF REFINING COMPANY SUPREME MOTOR OIL INK BLOTTER

circa 1930s/1940s

1930s (France)

1930s (France)

1940s (France)

1942 (Japan)

ENG KEE GO TAO CHINESE FIRECRACKER LABELS

Label reads: Eng Kee Go Tao, Basketball Ground, Trademark, Juanasan, Sole Agents, Mee San Hong, Importers, Exporters & Commission Agents, 204 Wing Lok St West, 2nd Floor, Hong Kong

1940s

PAUL DAXHELET ILLUSTRATED BASKETBALL POSTCARD (BELGIUM)

Paul Daxhelet was a Belgian graphic artist and painter who entered his works into the painting events of both the 1936 and 1948 Olympic games. His works submitted in 1936 cannot be precisely identified, but were mainly charcoal drawings and watercolors. According to the Olympic catalogue, his 1948 submissions were paintings, one of which featured basketball, but I cannot find an example of it. This postcard seems to be a print from one of Daxhelet’s charcoal drawings or etchings. It seems to be an outdoor game, so it is likely that it’s a scene from the 1936 games, the only time basketball was played outdoors at the Olympics. My best guess is that these postcards were produced around the 1948 Olympics, to promote the artists’ works and submissions to that event. There are other postcards by Daxhelet in a similar style, featuring a variety of different Olympic sporting events. They are all referred to on the back as Serie A.

Measurements: 4” x 6”

circa 1948

ST. HONORE SUPER BISCOTTES SALEES (SHORTBREAD) FOOD LABEL (FRANCE)

DUTCH KORFBAL (NETBALL) HOLLANDSCHE KASS CHEESE FOOD LABEL (HOLLAND)

circa 1940s/1950s

1950s (USSR)

1950s (USSR)

1957 (USSR)

1950s (USSR)

CLIFF HAGAN UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL STARS POSTCARD BY E.C. KROPP CO. (U.S.A.)

This postcard features an image of Hagan taken by Mack Hughes that was also used on his 1955 All-American Sports Club #109 card. The earliest example I could find of the photograph used for this postcard is a Mack Hughes Central Press Association copy stamped January 21st, 1952, so it could have been produced prior before sending to press. I mention this because this postcard only mentions Hagan’s sophomore year, and I have seen another example that included the addition of his junior year achievements. That example also had a date added by the owner of April 4th, 1952. If the junior year example was revised and reissued after the sophomore year example, then the sophomore postcard could potentially be a 1951 release.

Measurements: 3.5" x 5.5"

circa 1952

SOLO MATCH WORKS #24 BASKETBALL CARD LABEL (CZECHOSLOVAKIA)

These matchbox labels are actually a miniature card set made up of 24 cards depicting different sports. The last card in the set (#24) is the only Basketball card. The images from this set are commonly found in reproduction prints and apparel. ​

Measurements: 1.25" x 1.75"

1950s

NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION (NEA) FLONG MAT MOLD OF JIM POLLARD, ART BY MURRAY OLDERMAN

Murray Olderman was an American sports cartoonist and writer. His work appeared in 750 daily newspapers for the greater part of 35 years. This is an original mold sent to papers to accompany the story by Jim Pollard written for the NEA service and a copy of the article it was featured in. The article was published in numerous regional newspapers in April of 1955. The mold mat measures 2.5" x 4.5"

1955

CHEIW CHEWING GUM FRENCH INK BLOTTER

The image on this French ink blotter was replicated from a January 15th, 1949 Collier's Magazine cover that featured player Tommy Byrnes.

circa 1950s

BASKETBALL BEER COASTER ADVERTISING FUHRMANN & SCHMIDT BREWING COMPANY

circa 1950s

RUHI (RUTH) GUM WRAPPER LABEL (ISRAEL)

UNION OIL 76 SPORTS CLUB "FINE POINTS" BOOKLETS FEATURING BASKETBALL PLAYERS & COACHES

1957

EARL "THE PEARL" MONROE WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY POSTCARD (U.S.A.)

1968

OLYMPICS BASKETBALL YOUTH HOSTILE POSTCARD -USA VS. YUGOSLAVIA (FINAL GAME) FEATURING JO JO WHITE & SPENCER HAYWOOD (GERMANY)

1968

Slovenijales is a leading Slovenian specialized trading company offering wood products, hardware, and custom furniture for over 75 years. The company was the sponsor of the US National Team at the 1970 World Basketball Championship in Ljubljana and published this postcard that featured the team. The team featured several notable players, including future Hall of Famer Bill Walton. Although Walton never served in the U.S. Armed Forces and is famously remembered for his anti-establishment stances and outspoken criticism of the Vietnam War, he did represent the United States at these 1970 World Military games wearing the U.S. Armed Forces jersey. 13 countries participated in the games, with Yugoslavia defeating the USA (70:63) in the final game.

Measurements: 4” x 5.875”

SLOVENIJALES WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN LJUBLJANA (TEAM USA/ARMED FORCES) BILL WALTON POSTCARD (YUGOSLAVIA)

1970

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1920s

1930s

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1940s

1950s

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