Two Original Photos of Early Women's Tennis Players, Circa 1880s

Women in Sports

Photograph

2 Albumen photos of early recreational tennis game. Circa 1880’s. Larger photo measures 6.75” x 8.5” inches on original photographer’s board measuring 9.75” x 6.75”. Smaller photo measures 7.25” x 4.5” inches on white photographer’s board measuring 8” x 5” inches. Photo was taken by Marston photo studio of Bangor, Maine. Larger photo shows a large group of young women posed in tiers on a lawn in front of a large brick building. The front row is spread across the grass with others in chairs behind them and the back row sitting on the open windowsill and ledge along the side of the building. The group is entirely female, suggesting maybe an early women’s college, all of them dressed in high-collared dresses, long skirts with bustles, many in hats and some with parasols. In the front row four women hold tennis rackets as if posing before or after a game. This restless group of young women are pictured in the 1870s or 1880's. The other photo shows a tennis game at play with a man on one side of the net and two women on the other holding rackets on a tennis lawn. The court has been constructed on a lawn with painted boundaries and a net, which was customary in 19th century. In the background is a large white wooden house. Lawn tennis came into fashion in the 1870’s as an upper-class hobby marking leisure time for players and spectators. Some spotting and Light staining on photos does not effect clarity of images. Overall in very good condition.

Item #17872

Price: $285.00