(Item 217)
While the 1924-1925 posters are incredible, this 1923-1924 Season Schedule Poster is arguably the more historically significant piece of the three.
Why? Because the 1923-1924 season was the inaugural year of the National Pocket Billiard League (NPBL). Before this, professional pool was a chaotic series of challenge matches. This poster represents the first time the sport’s “Titans” were organized into a formal, traveling league.
The “All-Star” Lineup
This roster is significantly larger (16 players) and includes several “Old Guard” legends who were phasing out by the time your 1925 poster was printed:
Bennie Allen: The “Kansas City Kid,” who was a dominant force in the 1910s.
Keogh & Hueston: Jerome Keogh and Willie Hueston were absolute icons of the early 20th century. Keogh is often credited with inventing the game of “Straight Pool” ( Continuous).
Maturo & Church: Pasquale “Pat” Maturo and James Maturo were high-level contenders, and seeing them alongside Greenleaf and Taberski marks the literal passing of the torch from the Victorian era to the Golden Age.
Rarity and Market Analysis
As the “Volume 1” of league posters, Item 217 is the cornerstone of a serious billiard collection.
Collector’s Insight: The “Triple Threat”
By owning Items 217, 218, and 219, you have a consecutive chronological archive of the birth of professional league pool.
The Investment: Pieces like these are essentially “recesssion-proof” because they are one-of-a-kind survivors. They aren’t just posters; they are the primary source documents for the history of the sport.
Museum Quality: If these are in “Excellent” condition (no major tears through the text, minimal foxing), they are candidates for high-end auction houses like Sotheby’s or Heritage Auctions, which specialize in sports history.
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