Circa 1880's The Melfort 27 1/2 Line Cut Gutty Golf Ball - Hardison Collection

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/17/2022

Circa 1880's The Melfort 27 1/2 Line Cut Gutty Golf Ball - Hardison Collection

Adorned with the markers mark 'The Melfort' and their size number 27 1/2 is this scarce golf ball dating to the 1880's. It has retained much of its original paint and is unstruck, with chips of paint missing merely from storage conditions that were not ideal in the past. Once under the discerning eye of Frank Hardison. Collecting pioneer Frank Hardison dedicated 65 years of his life with one goal in mind - compiling the finest golf collection built from the ground up. The collection and individual behind it would gain notoriety, as the resourceful and affable Hardison with a discerning eye outworked and out-traveled the then small community of fellow private golf curators. It was a new hobby preserving the old game. Frank and his brother Chet made an annual 2-week golf trip across the pond to Scotland to immerse themselves in the culture. The duo found themselves in the local antique and thrift stores post-round more times than not; It was the home of golf after all. Sourcing from the ground up in the Scottish community - the caddies to the ancient clubs themselves. The older the golf artifact, the stronger the tie to the game as it was originally played.

A breakthrough in Frank Hardison's collection came through the acquisition of another - The famous Harry B. Wood Collection. After a year and a half of back and forth negotiation, the collection then exhibited at the North Manchester Golf Club in England was Hardison's. Frank joined friend Peter Crabtree in the deal that included, among other artifacts, the rarest golf balls carefully preserved to be in top condition. Presented in this auction is a select few balls that were exhibited in the Harry B. Wood Collection, to the Frank Hardison Collection, and finally presented here proudly by The Golf Auction resulting in a once-in-a-lifetime chance to obtain balls that have been out of sight for decades. While inspecting the stunning photos, a top-tier collector and visionary will understand the magnitude and importance of this opportunity. Many of the marquee vintage golf balls still incredibly contain 85-95% of the original paint. This item was hand-picked multiple times to join the top collections of their day in hopes of preserving the ancient game for future generations. Now is your chance to do the same.