Friday, October 25, 2019

James Naismith Tintype 1885 McGill Football


This is a pretty special football piece, the significance of which I think I would have trouble overstating.  A rarity in every regard, James Naismith photographed posed in his football uniform in 1885 at McGill University. A football tintype is fairly rare, and one of a well-known sitter is unheard of. This tintype is possibly unique in this regard. Naismith was the inventor of basketball, and likely the first to devise head and ear protection in football.


The 1885 McGill Football team, Naismith seated at far right wearing the same long sleeve white canvas lace up vest, pants and belt as in the tintype (Note: tintype images are reversed). Permission to use this Notman team photo was granted under written license obtained through the McGill University Archives.
See related blog entries on tintypes (August 11, 2014, November 3, 2014 and October 19, 2016).