For you hockey and history fans comes this very special item. Joseph Merlin, a Belgian inventor, is thought to be the first to create roller skates, around 1760. He wore his skates to a party in London and crashed into an expensive mirror. A little over 100 years later, James Plimpton, a businessman from Massachusetts, revolutionized roller skates. His new version enabled the skater to easily and smoothly turn. He called it a rocking skate. This became the industry standard for over 100 more years before inline skating took hold. In 1882, a National Roller Polo League appeared in Dayton, Ohio. Two years later, the Massachusetts Roller Polo League was founded with 14 teams. This photo is probably of one of those teams. Photo is 22 X 18” and shows 5 players in full uniform in front of a goal net. The goalie has pads that cover the top of his feet through his knees. The men are wearing ties and look very dapper. In front of them on the floor is the puck of that era, a shiny metallic ball. Photo is of exceptional quality and is in its original frame (27-1/2 X 23-3/4”) which is also in outstanding shape, except for two very minor chips. A must have for those that treasure hockey.