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Superb 1930 Chicago Cubs Team-Signed George Burke Presentation Photograph Album Including Wilson, Hornsby, Hartnett, and McCarthy - Originating From Outfielder Danny Taylor

  • Sold For: $11,700
  • Year: 1930
  • Auction: 2025 May
  • Lot #: 10
  • Auction Category: Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

In 1930, a special signed photo album was prepared and presented as a keepsake to each member of the Chicago Cubs, in the wake of their season as National League champs in 1929. Presented is outfielder Danny Taylor's personal photo album, featuring the entire 1930 Chicago Cubs team; the thirty-two photographs, each of a single uniformed player or Cubs administrator/announcer, are mounted one per page and exquisitely bound between two brown leather soft-covers. The cover reads "Danny Taylor," "The Cubs," and "1930" in gold lettering. The photographs were taken by legendary sports photographer George Burke of Chicago and are in Excellent condition overall. All thirty-two photographs have been signed, many with added salutations and personalizations to Taylor. Interestingly, Taylor has gone ahead and signed his own photograph. The photographs each measure 4 x 6 inches. The 1930 Cubs were a powerhouse team. Included were seven future Hall of Famers: Ray Schalk, Joe McCarthy, Gabby Hartnett, KiKi Cuyler, Rogers Hornsby, George Kelly, and Hack Wilson. The album measures 5.25 x 8.75 inches. The covers exhibit some heavy wear, especially at the corners, but they have served to protect the interior pages and mounted photographs extremely well over time.

Also accompanying this album is an extraordinary letter of support from photographer George Brace. It reads, in part: "I recognize the enclosed photographs as being taken by my former employer, George C. Burke. I began working for Mr. Burke as a file clerk, subsequently taking photos, and ultimately took over the business when Mr. Burke retired in 1936. Mr. Burke took these photographs, via glass negatives, in either 1929 or 1930. It was common for the ball players at this time to order photographs of themselves from us to autograph and give to fans or fellow players. The photo album you describe containing every player from the 1930 Chicago Cubs seems to be one where the player would have either bought one photo of every player from us to have autographed, or gone to each player asking for an autographed photo."

This is a spectacular example, one of only a few we have ever seen, of the ultimate 1930 Chicago Cubs team-signed item. Full LOA from James Spence/JSA.