In 1856, when Robert Forgan first began making his own clubs, he stamped their crowns "R. Forgan" in large block letters.  In 1863, after he was appointed clubmaker to H.R.H the Prince of Wales, Forgan began to stamp each of his clubs with the Prince of Wales plume directly below his name. The example here has the large letter stamp and the POW plume. These two elements together identify this club as made between 1863 and approximately 1870, when Forgan left his large name behind for a smaller "R. Forgan Stamp.  The vast bulk of the Forgan long nose clubs made have the smaller stamp.

This 41-inch middle spoon looks much like a Hugh Philp club. The clubhead is long and graceful, reminiscent of the clubheads made by Philp, and the face measures only 1 inch in depth.  The similarities between Philp's work and Forgan's work are not surprising. In 1852 Forgan went to work for Philp and had the opportunity to learn from the master clubmaker.  After Philp died in 1856, Forgan took over Philp's business and made clubs under his own name. 

Early large-letter/POW Forgan clubs are hard to come by and exceptionally desirable. This example is solid overall and still has its original medium-brown finish, shaft, and grip.  Both the head and shaft are stamped with the initials of the owner—"WRW."  The shaft whipping appears old, but its unvarnished.  It might or might not be replacement whipping.  There is a small hairline crack that begins at the top of the face and extends half-an-inch down the face. This same crack also extends 1/2" across the top of the head, from the top of the face to the start of the POW plume. There is also a dark stain of some kind in the middle of the face, where the hairline crack is. The crack and stain are certainly there, but they are small potatos given the maker, rarity, great lines, and overall nice original elements of this club.

This Forgan club is 4th from the right in the group image.  For more on Robert Forgan and his early long nose clubs, see TCA2 Vol 1, p 70-73.