Burke photos offered

Dealer Jim Stinson recently acquired about 100 photographs by famed baseball shutterbug George Burke. Burke maintained his photo studio in Chicago and became the premier baseball photographer of the 1920s and 1930s. Stinson said the photos are from two different collections from people in two different parts of the country. One of the former owners had inherited the photographs from Giants trainer William C. Schaeffer.

"Burke was a ready resource for people who wanted to buy images," Stinson said. "Back then, the photo was worth more than the autograph. Teams would buy a set or the players often could buy sets or individual photos. The sets often came in albums. I've sold a few in the album. It was common for Burke photos to make their way to the families of players. Stinson said collectors adore Burke photos for their painting-like virtuosity. "He had a way of making his subjects very comfortable," he added.

The teams represented in the acquisition are the New York Giants, the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox. Philadelphia Athletics, Washington Senators and St. Louis Cardinals. Prices range from $35 to $225. Most of the photos range from $35 to $65. Among notable players are Frank Snyder and Bill Terry of the Giants, Willis Hudlin of the Indians, and Monty Stratton of the White Sox. For more information contact Stinson at (941) 697-4829.