Us Patent No. 538572 Hand Protector for Ball Catchers by E L Wilson (april 3 1895) — E. L. Wilson's 1895 schematic arrives from an era when catchers stopped fastballs barehanded and counted broken fingers as part of the job. The line drawing maps a padded shell across the palm and knuckles, an early armoring of the hand back when the mitt itself was still being invented.

About the Source

Bella Frye sources sports artifacts from American archives — the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for inventor's drawings, and from the great American tobacco-card and broadside traditions for vintage memorabilia: Allen & Ginter, T206, Cracker Jack, Boston Garter, the Negro League broadsides, and the early press photographs that documented baseball, football, golf, and the rest of the American sporting century.

Materials & Finish

Printed to order in our Pacific Northwest studio on premium 380gsm cotton canvas with archival pigment inks. Hand-finished and framed in our signature ornate frame with verdigris corner detail, available in three finishes:

• Ebony — deep black with carved ornate detailing; dramatic against light walls
• Verdigris — aged copper-green with antique patina; the signature Bella Frye look
• Bourbon — warm walnut tone with ornate relief; rich and historically grounded

Stretched canvas (frameless gallery wrap) is available for those who prefer a frameless presentation.

Where It Belongs

Game rooms, dens, sports bars, fan caves, home offices, and any space where the engineering and folklore of American sport earn wall presence. Pairs naturally with other documents from the Bella Frye Sports Memorabilia collection — patents, portraits, programs, and the artifacts of the great American game.

• Premium 380gsm cotton canvas, archival pigment inks
• Three frame finishes: Ebony, Verdigris, Bourbon
• Stretched canvas option available
• Hand-finished in our Pacific Northwest studio
• Arrives ready to hang
• Free shipping on every order, ships next business day