This head on this Ping Redwood City Model 1A is in excellent original condition, with its original dark patina, typical of early PING manganese bronze putters. There are no dings or nicks on the head and the original 35 1/2" shaft is without flaw. 

Update 11/16/22 The white Golf Pride Informer grip appears to be a replacement that is torn a bit in the center, down low. The white grip trim at the base is not original. The sole is stamped "9" which was Karsten's own head-weight indicator.

Behind the face there is what might be lead tape glue residue or white paint, but lead tape residue would make more sense.  Suffice it to say, the auctioneer does not know what it is nor is he sure how well it might clean off. Its only behind the face and nowhere else in the cavity.

Karsten Solheim, with the able help of his teen-age son John, made this putter by hand in his Redwood City, California, garage.  Redwood City Ping 1A putters are now iconic. They unleashed the creative genius of Karsten Solheim, the man who changed how the entire clubmaking world designed and produced golf clubs.

For more information on this and the other Redwood City putters, the entire second chapter in And the Putter Went Ping, pages 26 through 53, tells the amazing story.  This chapter highlights in great detail the creative genius behind the 1A, how it came to be, and the monumental roll it played in bringing heel/toe weighting into the world of golf.