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).
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