Unlike the earliest hand-hammered gutty balls, this c. 1870s gutty ball has a tight pattern, with more scoring lines than is found on a typical early Forgan-pattern ball.  Give a quick glance, this ball appears to be from a mold, except molds were made with great precision and the pattern on this ball is not.   The marks form a large number of squares in a great variety of sizes, with lines, upon close inspection, often askew to neighboring lines.  This is clear evidence that the person who made the mold did so by hand or the ball itself was cut by hand. Take your pick. The auctioneer is unsure which.

The pattern on the ball is clearly evident with an asymmetrically created pattern. The ball remains in excellent condition so the ball- or mold-makers work can be appreciated and admired in all its detailed but crooked wonder.  This is a highly unusual ball!

This ball is shown second from the right in the accompanying group image.