Important 1920 Babe Ruth “Headin Home” Promotional...

Important 1920 Babe Ruth “Headin Home” Promotional Broadside: Likely a unique surviving example. Large format poster done to promote the Babe Ruth movie “Headin Home” released in 1920 when he was just (25) years of age and on the cusp of immortality. It was his first feature film and he signed the agreement to star in it during a ceremony at home plate before the Yankees July 24th home game against Boston. Newspapers reported he was to be paid $100,000 for his efforts and shooting began in earnest. Ruth’s scenes were done during the baseball season in and around New York when he would return from road trips. The Babe played a fictionalized version of himself in the silent film which followed his rise from small-town misfit to slugging superstar. At the time, famed boxing promoter Tex Rickard held a (10) year lease on Madison Square Garden, and paid $35,000 for the rights to host an exclusive eight day run of showings before release in other theaters. Period accounts note that he went all out spending liberally to prepare the venue including installation of what was then the largest movie screen ever made. He is also said to have decorated which may well have been the intended use for this poster. Short term use in a single location would help account for the extreme rarity with this being the only example we know to have survived. The piece measures approx. 28”x22” and was done on heavy paper stock. Modest toning is generally even throughout and there are a few scattered flaws which include small tears on both the left and right edges. Housed in a vintage wood frame to 24.25”x30.25” overall size. The provenance of the piece can be traced back to a upstate New York antique dealer by the name of Tony DeLuca. Mr. DeLuca had purchased the poster from a sportswriter who had been associated with Ruth during his playing career. Included with the poster are several early 1970s pieces of correspondence between DeLuca and the New York Yankees including a reference that they were going to inquire to Claire Ruth to see if she might have any further information. The broadside has descended within the family of Tony DeLuca and is being presented for the first time publicly. Very significant offering that could well be the only surviving example. Includes letter of provenance from the DeLuca family and group of related 1970s correspondence: VG-EX

Estimation:€22,468.77

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