Cap Anson Signed Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard — One of the Rarest Autographs in Early Baseball History

Among 19th-century baseball artifacts, few pieces carry the scarcity, historical weight, and collector prestige of an authentic Adrian “Cap” Anson signature. This example, featuring a genuine Anson autograph mounted to an Artvue Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard, represents a rare opportunity for advanced collectors, historians, and institutions seeking material from the earliest era of professional baseball. Surviving autographs from this period are exceedingly rare, and Anson remains one of the most coveted signatures of any Hall of Famer.

Historical Background and Significance

Adrian Constantine Anson, known universally as “Cap,” was the dominant offensive force of the 19th century and a defining figure in the formation of the National League. Beginning his professional career in the 1870s, Anson compiled more than 3,000 career hits, won four batting titles, managed Chicago for nearly two decades, and served as the face of baseball’s earliest era of organized competition.

Because player autographs were not commonly collected in the 1800s, genuine signatures from Anson’s lifetime are extraordinarily scarce. Most authentic examples today trace back to personal letters, business documents, or legal papers. His autograph is widely regarded by collectors as being among the toughest of all Baseball Hall of Famers, placing him alongside other ultra-rare 19th-century pioneers whose signatures seldom appear on the open market.

The Artvue Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard format, produced many decades after Anson’s death, has become a preferred method for displaying cut signatures of early inductees. When paired with a verified authentic autograph, these cards create a historically compelling and museum-ready presentation.

Technical Description and Physical Details

This piece features a clean and appealing Cap Anson signature affixed to the front of an original Artvue Hall of Fame Plaque Postcard. The autograph has been fully authenticated and encapsulated by Beckett Authentication Services (BAS), a leading authority in sports and historical signature verification.

The postcard is well preserved, with strong clarity in the plaque image and minimal handling wear. The signature itself presents attractively, displaying the fluid letter formation and period writing style expected from verified Anson specimens.

Because authentic Anson autographs seldom surface—even in fragmentary form—the appearance of any well-documented example is significant. When paired with a preserved plaque postcard and third-party authentication, the result is a display piece suited for private collections, investment portfolios, and institutional archives.

Rarity and Collector Appeal

Cap Anson’s autograph occupies an elite tier of difficulty. Factors contributing to extreme scarcity include:

• 19th-century signatures were not mass-collected or produced
• Most surviving examples are locked in institutional archives
• Many known signatures originated on documents now permanently housed in museums
• Forgeries and misattributions are common due to market demand
• Authentic examples seldom appear in high-grade, display-ready formats

For advanced Hall of Fame collectors, Anson is considered one of the essential “keystone signatures,” often ranking alongside King Kelly, Buck Ewing, and other 19th-century greats whose authentic autographs are rarely offered publicly.

Estimated Appraised Value

Based on confirmed recent auction results, scarcity, autograph quality, third-party authentication, and historic importance, the estimated fair market value for this piece ranges from 6,000 to 10,000 dollars. Exceptional examples, especially those with bold handwriting or verified provenance, can exceed this range in private sales, sometimes reaching 12,000 to 15,000 dollars or more.

Because the supply of authentic Anson signatures is fixed and diminishing, long-term appreciation is likely, particularly for encapsulated, display-ready combinations such as this one.

The Importance of Authentication and Appraisal

With figures as historically significant as Anson, professional authentication is essential. His signature is one of the most counterfeited among early baseball legends, and distinguishing genuine 19th-century handwriting requires expert evaluation. An appraisal also establishes verifiable fair market value for insurance coverage, estate planning, and resale documentation.

Authentication further protects the chain of custody, ensuring that collectors and institutions can rely on verified evidence of origin, period correctness, and long-term preservation quality.

At DJR Authentication, we evaluate sports memorabilia, early Hall of Fame autographs, and rare baseball archives of all periods. Our appraisals include structured documentation suitable for insurance, estate planning, resale, and more. To submit your item for an online appraisal or schedule an in-person consultation, visit the services page. In-person consultations are available by appointment in Charleston, SC.