Lot 100

[Basketball] An Early Women's Basketball Team Photograph

Previous image preload Next image preload

[Basketball] An Early Women's Basketball Team Photograph

Estimate: $300 - $500

Starting Bid: $150

(0 Bids)

by Freeman’s
June 30, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
2400 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA, US 19103

[Basketball] An Early Women's Basketball Team Photograph

Washoe County, Nevada, ca. 1890s-early 1900s. Silver gelatin print on original cardstock. Corners slightly worn; some scattered stains to mount; dampstaining to verso. Photo: 7 3/16 x 9 3/8 (182 x 238 mm); mount: 10 1/4 x 12 1/2 in. (260 x 317 mm).

An early photograph of a women's basketball team from Washoe County, Nevada. In the United States, basketball was the first women’s team sport. First played by women at Smith College in 1892, a year after the sport’s creation, it quickly spread throughout the country over the ensuing decade. The early history of the sport was dominated by Senda Berenson, known as the “founding mother of women’s basketball”, who taught the sport at Smith. In line with Victorian norms, she modified the rules of the game to meet social expectations relating to women, such as increasing the number of players and prescriptions on types of playing and maneuvers, in order to reduce physicality and keep physical exposure to a minimum. This is reflected in the present photo by their concealing uniforms, typically comprised of long skirts or bloomers. The first inter-collegiate game was played in 1896, and the first high school game the following year. In 1899, Berenson published the first rules guide for women’s basketball, which was largely adhered to until the 1960s. Over the following decades the rules restraining the types of play were loosened, and in 1978, the first professional league was formed.
This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Other, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

While Freeman's does not provide packing and shipping services, we do have a list of recommended third party shippers to assist you.

We require a written authorization from the client to release property to any third party. You may either:

Fax a Shipping Release Form to 312.280.1211, or
Email your authorization to [email protected].

Please note that all property must be removed from our premises within seven (7) business days following the last day of the auction. Freeman's reserves the right to charge $5 per lot per day or to deliver said property to a public warehouse for storage at the purchaser's expense. (Please see the Conditions of Sale)

You can find a complete list of recommended service providers for each Freeman's office location at our Shipping and Packing page.

If you have questions about shipping or packing, please contact [email protected].

Freeman’s

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $1,000,000:
32.00%
$1,000,001+:
25.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000