Bogardus Glass Ball Pat’d Apr 10 1877.

Bogardus’ Glass Ball Pat’d Apr 10 1877.

Adam Henry Bogardus

Cobalt Blue Target Ball

Provenance: Ex: Ralph Finch collection, American Glass Gallery

The Bogardus glass target ball is a favorite with collectors because it came in many different molds and colors and told a story.

Of American manufacture, our rare cobalt blue ball has a quilted diamond pattern above and below a center band carrying the embossed copy reading, ‘BOGARDUS’ GLASS BALL PAT’D APR 10 1877.’ The ball was made in a 3-piece mold with a rough sheared mouth and is 2 5/8″ in diameter. The condition of the glass and embossing is exquisite.

Capt. Adam Henry Bogardus, (1834–1913) was a world champion trap shooter as well as the inventor of the first practical glass ball trap. He was born in Berne, New York, and in 1854 married Cordelia Dearstyne. They moved to Elkhart, Illinois where he became the wing shot champion of the world along with his three sons.

Bogardus is credited with romanticizing trap shooting which began with live pigeons in the United States around 1825. The first recorded match balls contained feathers which were followed by clay targets or clay pigeons.

Bogardus invented the first practical glass ball trap in 1877. The trap threw the ball at least 60 feet through the air in a very long arc. In 1877, Bogardus patented various target ball designs included his famous diamond-shaped pattern. The 1877 date is embossed on this ball and others. One feature of the Bogardus ball was that the diamond ridges helped ensure that any pellets would shatter the sphere, rather than glance off the smooth surface of the orb.

Bogardus and his sons eventually went on to tour with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Captain Bogardus remained with the show for a year. Bogardus is in the National Trapshooting Hall of Fame and died in 1913 in Lincoln, Logan Co., Illinois.

Bogardus glass balls came in so many variations and colors that some collectors collect just the Bogardus balls and nothing else. The yellow-amber Bogardus ball is actually quite common. There are other variations, however, that are quite rare.

See other Bogardus target balls in the museum Target Ball Gallery:

Bogardus’ Glass Ball Patd Apr 10 1877 (with 8 in diamond panel)

Bogardus’ Glass Ball Patd Apr. 10 1877 (four dot mold variant)

Bogardus’ Glass Ball (without patent date)

Bogardus ‘D’ Glass Ball Patd Apr 10th 1877

Bogardus Glass Ball – 8 (Within Diamond Panel)

Bogardus’ Glass Balls – Stolberger Glashutten A.G.

F. G. Hopkins St. Jo. Mo. Bogardus Glass Ball

Primary Image: “Bogardus’ Glass Ball Pat’d Apr10 1877” imaged on location by Alan DeMaison, FOHBC Virtual Museum Midwest Studio.

Support: Reference to History of Glass Target Balls For Fun, Sure as Shootin’ – Target Balls Hit the Mark by Alex Kerr 

Support: Reference to What are target balls? I’m glad you asked! by Ralph Finch

Support Primary Image: Auction Lot 556: “BOGARDUS’ GLASS BALL PAT’D APR 10 1877.” Target Ball, America, 1877 – 1900. Cobalt blue, quilted diamond pattern above and below the center band, 3-piece mold, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 5/8”, perfect. A beautiful and scarce color for a Bogardus ball. – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

Support Secondary Images: John Pastor and American Glass Gallery and Christie’s.

Support Secondary Images: Auction Lot 151: “Bogardus’ Glass” – ” Ball Pat’d Apr 10 1877.” Target Ball, three-piece mold construction, America, 1877-1900. Spherical with quilted diamond pattern above and below center band with embossed lettering, brilliant moss green, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 5/8 inches. Wonderful and rare light green color, bold embossing with numerous small bubbles. Fine condition. Cindy Gaffney collection. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Auction Lot 661: “CAPT. A. H. BOGARDUS & SONS” Cabinet Card, 1885 – 1895. Image of Capt. Bogardus with his three sons holding rifles and shotguns. Inscription, CAPT. A. H. BOGARDUS & SONS. / CHAMPION SHOTS OF THE WORLD. Photography studio, “Eisenmann. Photo, 229 Bowery N Y” – Eisenmann / Photographer. / New-York.” (on reverse), 4 ¼” x 6 ½”, excellent condition. – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

Support Image: Auction Lot 761: Framed cigarette card booklet cover showing Target Shooters and Wild West Legends, 1890 – 1900. Front cover of a booklet that contained examples of all the cigarette cards the company produced for the Wild West. Most sports were represented on the cigarette cards. This cover focused on one of the most popular themes, legendary shooters of the day including Annie Oakley, Capt. A.H. Bogardus, W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), and Dr. W.F. (Doc) Carver (along with an image of a trap in the background). Cover approx. 7 ½” x 6”, frame 14 ½” x 10 ¼”, excellent condition. – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

Support Image: Auction Lot 631: “BOGARDUS’ GLASS BALL PATD APRL 10 1877.” – “8” (within diamond panel), Target Ball, England, 1877 – 1900. Beautiful teal coloration, quilted, diamond pattern above and below center band, 3-piece mold, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 5/8”, perfect. A great example with a strong, bold impression, and in a very scarce color. – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

Support Image: Auction Lot 633: “BOGARDUS GLASS BALL PATD APR. 10 1877.” (four dot mold variant) Target Ball, America, 1877 – 1900. Gorgeous straw-yellow coloration, quilted diamond pattern (embossed dots in four consecutive diamond panels above the center band), rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 5/8”, perfect. A very scarce Bogardus mold, this one also happens to be in a very pleasing color. – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

Support: Reference to the American Glass Gallery, The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019

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