A series of 19 original photographs capturing an early American auto race and what we believe to be the 1909 iteration of the 200 mile stock car auto races run over paths of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park from 1908-1911.

Visible running numbers on cars include 8, 9, 13, 15, and 23 and a view of lettering painted on a fence reveals the names “Buick” and “Apperson,” with 1909 being the only year which saw an entry of the prior.

Contemporary news reports suggest the race drew some 500,000 fans to Park grounds, placing it high in the running for most well-attended sporting events in American history. Rare photographs, all seemingly unpublished.

[Motorsports] : [Photography]. [Photographs of Early Automobile Races in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park]. [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]: [ca. 1909]. 19 black and white silver print photographs, each slightly larger than 6" x 4." Each mounted to thick brown card with irregular edges as though individually cut from a larger mounting or display. Some messy bits of card loss from edges, light cracking in emulsions visible under magnification. Overall group about good.