Two spectacular images, these are the earliest we have seen or offered of the game invented only one year earlier by Dr. James Naismith in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. Far rarer than team photographs, these are action photos of two competing women's teams. Antiquated wooden basketball hoop is plainly seen on a pole in Photo #1 and a "97" (stands for Class of 1897) appears on the front of the first basketball bloomers worn by the young woman in the foreground. This makes for a truly beautiful image in terms of composition and importance. In Photo #2 a melon basketball is seen mid-air. Included for identification is a third photo unrelated to basketball that came in this find. On the verso it is signed in pencil by the photographer/owner of these photos "Arria H. Page" who was born in Dunstable, Massachusetts in 1870 making her 22 when this was taken. In ink she has added, "Camp at Forge Pond Ga Rew Aug. 1892." There is speculation that this is a Smith College team. Photos are each 4x5" and overall EX.