This circa 1880s solid gutty ball is most interesting for a couple of reasons.  First, it is distinctly smaller than most balls, as shown in one of the last images.  Second, the auctioneer believes it was made in a mold that, itself, was hand-engraved with this pattern, which was how the earliest patterns were installed in molds.  A close examination of the lines molded into the ball reveal inconsistencies that are not found in mesh pattern gutty balls of the 1890s. By the auctioneer's estimation, it was more around the late 1880s when solid brass master balls were used to make molds.

To Learn more about how early gutty balls were made, see section 1.2 Golf Ball Construction 101 in my article "Counterfeits! Antique Golf Balls That Don't Fly" Click Here.

This ball remains in good condition with much of its original white paint.  A very nice ball for any collection.