Autographed 19th Century Baseball Cards

Mayo's Cut Plug cards (ACC designation N300) were published in 1895 and measure 1 5/8" by 2 7/8".   Issued by P. H. Mayo & Brother of Richmond, Virginia, this set of black bordered/backed cards features 48 players shown in either street clothes or in uniform.  The cards were likely distributed in either cloth tobacco bags or tins that resembled lunch pails.
 
This card was signed by Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy, who was later featured on a T206 card, long after his playing career was over but while he was managing the White Sox.  The year before this card was issued, Duffy had batted .440 with 18 home runs and 145 RBI to win the National League Triple Crown. 
 
This magnificent card, certified authentic by GAI, was sold in the 2005 Robert Edward Auction and currently resides in a private collection.  At the time of its sale, REA represented that it was "the earliest traditional baseball card we have ever seen signed by any player."

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REA Auction Description:  This 1895 N300 Mayo Cut Plug tobacco card of Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy has been beautifully signed in ink by Duffy ("8") in the background above his image. There are very few cards from this era which were ever signed by ballplayers. It was a very uncommon practice in the "old days," but fortunately a few autograph collectors did occasionally use cards for signing, usually when photographs were not available. This is the earliest traditional baseball card we have ever seen signed by any player. Duffy's signature was always highly sought after by collectors, especially during the last ten years of his life, but we can't imagine that too many collectors ever had an 1895 Mayo Cut Plug baseball card of Duffy to present for signing. Duffy was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945, and died on October 19, 1954, in Boston. His legendary .438 season in 1894 represents the highest single-season batting average by any player ever. For his career, Duffy hit .330 in 1,722 games, with 2,307 hits, 1,545 runs scored, and 103 home runs. The card has various condition flaws, but the integrity of the card remains very much intact. The front of the card is in a very attractive Good condition. The back (which is blank) has some damage, possibly from at one time being glued into an album, which is of little consequence to the card. We wouldn't want to have to find another autographed Mayo of Hugh Duffy. This is very likely the only signed example in existence. Graded 1.5 Fair by GAI. LOAs from Mike Gutierrez/GAI and James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Reserve $400. Estimate $800/$1,200. SOLD FOR $2,610.00

Click for 2005 REA Auction: Signed Mayo Duffy

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Although REA said at the time that the Duffy was the oldest known signed traditional baseball card that they had ever seen, reliable sources indicate there is an autographed Old Judge Connie Mack with a beautiful fountain pen signature on the back.  Apparently, this card was sold in a Mastro auction some time ago.
  
Moreover, this signed cabinet card of Henry Chadwick -- often called "the father of baseball" -- dates to 1874, commemorating Chadwick's 50th birthday.  This card is shown on page 7 of Smithsonian Baseball: Inside The Word's Finest Collections by Stephen Wong.  However, most would agree that this does not qualify as a baseball card in the traditional sense of the word.
 
Finally, there are also some signed carte de vistas (CDV) of Boston players from the 1870's, including Harry Wright.  And, there are apparently signed CDVs of players in uniform, which go back to the 1860s and 1870s.  For example, there is a signed CDV of the man who started the Union of Morrisania Baseball club that dates to about 1862.  These come a little closer to what we think of when we talk about baseball cards. 
 
Probably the earliest signed baseball cards that can be found in a baseball card price guide were a complete set of signed 1872 Warren Studios cabinets cards, which were auctioned a few years back.  Not surprisingly, these have been described as "visually stunning."
 
If you have scans or stories of any 19th Century autographed cards, please send me an e-mail.