Not my expertise, but I have found a few listings out there for balls closely resembling these two, describing them as late 19th/early 20th c. baseballs (and valuing them VERY highly.) I think the age is right, but they look to me to have been sewn of oil cloth, and I think its possible these were made as carnival knock down balls. In any case, I think they're quite beautiful things, with nicely irregular hand-stitching in blue thread, and great all over patterns of wear to the cloth (looks somewhat like leather, but I do believe oil cloth), looking like craquelure. Satisfying, evocative objects, and holding together pretty well should one want to toss them around.
Each approx 2 5/8" in diameter. Each shows a little loss - a few holes/cracks in the facing of the left one, revealing the orange-y underlayer of the cloth and in one spot the interior of the ball; and couple of missing stitches on the left one, all as documented. Both stable and sound, okay for throwing around but not for taking a bat to, I think!
SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. Please add one to your cart, or 2 for the pair. If one, and you have a preference between them, please indicate left or right in the notes field at checkout.
