Moderately toned A.G. Spalding & Bros. "Association Ball" baseball dating to the 1890s period having been signed by Nichols in black fountain pen. Signature varies in strength from 4-7 out of 10 having some fading to the middle and last name lettering, at places. Scattered minor surface wear to the 100 year hold baseball includes three minute pinholes to a side panel that do not effect the display quality in any fashion. The ball descended within extended Nichols family member. Kid Nichols was a premier pitcher of the late 19th and early 20th century period earning an astounding 361 career wins with a streak of ten consecutive 20+ win seasons. Remarkable rarity noted as one of only a scant handful of surviving example and certainly the earliest dated of that elite group. Includes full LOA from JSA: Ball: VG-EX, Signature: Range from VG/EX-EX/MT