Believed to be the actual print used for first newspaper publication the evening the photo was shot!

On June 13, 1948, New York Herald Tribune photographer Nat Fein took one of the most iconic images in sports history, “The Babe Bows Out” – Babe Ruth’s last appearance at Yankee Stadium shortly before he passed away. Fein wasn’t the only photographer on the field to record the event – practically every New York paper and all the news services sent their best lensmen – but what set his photo above the rest is where he chose to take the picture from. Instead of positioning himself with the rest of the photographer pack, Fein moved around behind Ruth and snapped the photo in order to make the Bambino’s iconic number “3” prominent. From this unique vantage point, Nat Fein’s photo seemed to silently tell the story of Babe Ruth saying his final goodbye, and slowly walking off into immortality. While the other photographers position made The Babe appear frail and weak, Fein’s vantage point gave Ruth a quiet dignity. Printed in that evening’s New York Herald Tribune, the photo was instantly famous, and Nat Fein eventually won a Pulitzer Prize for the piece. Since its first publication on June 13, 1948, the photo has been reprinted countless times, it’s been the base for countless imitations and caricatures, and most of all, it has become synonymous with Babe Ruth himself. But what makes this Type 1 print of Fein’s iconic photo unique is that it is believed to be the actual print used by the Herald-Tribune for their June 13, 1948 evening edition. There can be other Type 1 prints of this photo in existence, but there is only one that was used for its first appearance in print and it's possible that this example is the one that was used. The front image shows various creasing on the corners and paper remnants on its top white border. The bottom border has printing notations in black ink. The reverse of the photo has Nat Fein’s photographers stamp as well as numerous pencil notations. The most significant notations are the ones referring to “PAGE 42” and “PAGE 63,” which was presumedly added as the editors tried to find a place for the photo in the June 13, 1948 evening edition of the New York Herald Tribune. An incredible opportunity to possess the first printing of what may be the most iconic photograph in the history of sports. The 8" X 10" photo has been encapsulated and graded Type 1 Authentic by PSA.