Lot # 1: Tom Morris Hand-Hammered Gutty Ball c1860s

Category: Golf Balls

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 29 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Desert Mountain Collection",
which ran from 8/30/2022 6:00 AM to
9/17/2022 8:00 PM



Not only was Tom Morris able to adapt to whatever a course required of him (winning four Open Championship titles in his lifetime) but he showed that same adaptability within his business as the game of golf and its equipment evolved. After years of working with Allan Robertson and perfecting the intricate art of making feather balls, he successfully navigated their eventual demise by embracing the gutta-percha ball in both work and play.

This 1860s gutty ball was made by the hand of Old Tom Morris.  He hand-hammered the gutta percha to create the surface pattern and then stamped it with his name, "T. Morris," and the ball's weight, "27".  All things considered, this ball is dripping with history, in outstanding original condition with the name stamp clearly visible, and would be a cornerstone addition to any golf collection anywhere in the world.  No name from the 19th century is bigger than that of Old Tom Morris, and Morris-stamped balls are far more rare than Morris-stamped clubs. 

This Morris ball is on the right in the second row of the group shot in the accompanying images.

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