2013 Exclusive 200 Lot Winter Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2013
1953 Palm Beach Ticket Signed by Seldom Seen 1948 Masters Champ CLAUDE HARMON
For one lucky bidder, I'm sure what has been a long quest can come to an end with this lot. The quest for the very elusive autograph of the 1948 Masters Champion, Claude Harmon. In the days when it was hard for a professional golfer to feed his family, Harmon paid the bills as one of the top teaching club pros anywhere and held two of the most prestigious Country Club Pro slots in the United States at Winged Foot outside New York City and ultra exclusive Seminole in Florida. Headed out of the South from the Winter season of 1948, Harmon (the ever precise iron player) stopped off at Augusta on his way North and won the Masters. The glory of the victory did not change him or tempt him to leave his two lucrative country club positions. The combination of two contributing factors have led to a very difficult autograph first Harmon spending little time on the regular PGA tour and secondly his early passing before Masters champion autographs became in vogue. This has led to a Masters champs signature which many veteran collectors have never even seen. The Claude Harmon pencil signature on this 1953 Palm Beach Invitation ticket is extremely strong presenting at 9-10 strength. It makes perfect sense that Harmon would make one of his seldom seen appearances at this event as it was contested very close to his Winged Foot home course at the Meadow Brook Country Club in Westbury N.Y. Other signatures appearing on this gem are Jim Turnesa, Ed "Porky" Oliver, Doug Ford, Jim Ferrier, Julius Boros, Sam Snead, and Chick Harbert (Champion golfers all and many Hall of Famers in their own right). They all pale in comparison to the highly prized, key to any Masters collection signature of Claude Harmon. It is a Harmon, it really is, pinch yourself and start bidding. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed this signature, and their letter of authenticity comes with this lot.
In order to bid in extended bidding you must place a bid on the lot before 9pm on auction closing day.
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