2016 Ryder Cup Week Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/2/2016
Contestant Dick Metz's 1935 Masters Field Panoramic Photo With 75 autographs Front & Back Incl. Jones, Hagen, Sarazen, Smith Etc.
Before the second Masters (Augusta National Invitational as it was known at the time) began in 1935 Clifford Roberts requested that Frank Christian Sr. photograph the contestants for the event as a memento.The field that competed at the second Masters is represented by 49 in this original photo with absent notable exceptions including Walter Hagen, Horton Smith, Lawson Little and Leo Diegel (all of which still have signed this piece). This original image measuring 8 x 17 1/2 (H) and framed to measure 19 1/2" x 9 1/2" belonged to PGA professional Dick Metz who finished tied for 32nd place in the '35 Masters which had a field of 65 players. The stunning part of this earliest of Masters collectible is that it has been enhanced with a whopping 75 hand signed autographs (by the JSA count on letter of authenticity with at least an additional 8 more partials at close review) in steel-tip fountain pen, representing almost the entire field!, on the image and its verso side (some players would sign this item twice adding pennings to both front and back sides and Metz at a later date would add a ink pen signature on the back many years after the fact). The front contains 50 autographs and the reverse 32 signatures with Metz also adding his ink to the verso. This leaves us to believe that this is the largest grouping on one piece of signatures from the 1935 Masters which is known today. This item was most likely event signed as it contains the difficult to obtain autograph of John Golden (member of the first two U.S. Ryder Cup teams in 1927, '29, who died in January of 1936). We will attempt to identify all autographs as they appear on front of image from left to right (50):First Row Jim Foulis, Tony Manero, Bobby Cuickshank, Gene Sarazen, Charlie Yates, Paul Runyan, Robert T. Jones Jr., Olin Dutra, Johnny Farrell, Willie MacFarlane, Jimmy Thomson, Harry Cooper, Johnny Revolta, Henry Picard-Second Row Jules Huot, Bill Schwartz, Jock Hutchinson, Frank Walsh, Ray Mangrum, Clarence Clark, Jimmy Hines, Joe Turnesa, Victor Ghezzi, Abe Espinosa, Walter Korak, Pat Tiso-Third Row Phil Perkins, George Jacobus, Byron Nelson, Al Espinosa, Jug McSpaden, Denny Schute, Al Watrous, Gene Kunes, Johnny Dawson, Jack Munger, Wilford Werle, Gus Moreland, Ky Laffoon, Ralph Stonehouse Also on front above and to the right signatures include Jack Westland, Orville White, Walter Hagen, Mortie Dutra, Lawson Little, George Sargent, Willie Goggin, Horton Smith, Henri Ciuci and Sam Parks Jr. The verso from top to bottom signers (32):Jug McSpaden, H.G. Picard, Lawson Little, Fred McLeod, Jock Hutchinson, Bob MacDonald, Wiffy Cox, Johnny Dawson, Leo Diegel, Johnny Revolta, Leland Hamman, Jim Foulis, Ralph Stonehouse, Frank Walsh, Abe Espinosa, Willie Goggin, George Kunes, Bobby Cuickshank, Al Watrous, Clarence Clark, Billy Burke, Phil Perkins, George Jacobus, Andy Kay, John Golden, Jack Westland, Gene Sarazen, Ed Dudley, Jimmy Thomson, Olin Dutra, Henri Ciuci, Walter Kozak. Incredible as it may seem the whole field is represented on this piece with these exceptions (which may be penned, but not found without magnification): Chandler Egan, Fred Haas Jr, Tommy Armour, Bill Mehlhorn, Mike Turnesa and Craig Wood. This stunning compilation of golf autographs that dominated the 1930's earliest Masters events has a wide range of signature quality, but the nice aspect is the signature of Bobby Jones (which every eye will turn to first) is still bold(9 strength of sig).James Spence Authentication Full Letter of Authenticity Z07134 comes with this lot. The 1935 Masters was famously won by Gene Sarazen in large part due to his double eagle (albatross) in the fourth round. A rare bird indeed, but one that may pale in difficulty to the treasure offered in this lot. A centerpiece of any golf collection.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, October 2nd with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
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