Lot # 10: Willie Park, Jr. 1890 Diamond Mesh, 5th Golf Ball Ever Patented.

Category: Golf Balls

Starting Bid: $1,500.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring 2020",
which ran from 3/9/2020 2:30 PM to
3/28/2020 8:00 PM



This diamond mesh pattern gutty ball is covered under, and matches exactly, the 5th British Patent issued for a golf ball: Willie Park Jr's October 22, 1890, British patent No. 16862.  The first four patents date to 1860, 1876, 1877, and 1890. The auctioneer has never seen a ball produced under any of the first four patents, but its likely the some were made/tried under each of those patents, even if only a very small number. 

Park's ball is described in the August 21, 1891 issue of Golf. "Park's ball has certainly a neat appearance. Instead of the usual two or four facets it has six; and instead of the markings being square, they are diamond shaped." Park claimed his ball would provide greater distance, accuracy, and durability than other balls.  Well of course!

The Park diamond mesh ball offered here is in wonderful condition.  It appears to be nearly unused. There is a single a strike mark on the ball, but its not noticeable unless you look for it. The ball has lost a tiny bit of its paint at various points on it surface, as shown in the images. The ball still retains over 95% of its original paint.

Another great ball!

 

Views: 736