Bobby Jones Signed The Old Course St. Andrews Mackenzie Map - Only Known Example
"I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St Andrews and I would still have a rich, full life."
Bobby Jones famously stated in his St Andrews Honorary Citizenship acceptance speech in 1958. The ailing Bobby Jones made a significant final trek across the North Atlantic Ocean to St Andrews in 1958; this time wearing very different hats than he did during his 1930 "Grand Slam." His trip was legendary for three reasons, as he: received the prestigious Freedom of St Andrews honor, captain the United States Eisenhower Trophy World Amateur team on October 8-11th and 13th and last but not least - wrote his book 'Golf Is My Game.' Bobby Jones wanted "to play to win," as he states. The winning bidder of our 2024 July Auction Lot #1 here will be the custodian to the only known Bobby Jones signed St Andrews Old Course map in existence. This incredible work is time-period signed in blue ballpoint ink with the full name of 'Robert T Jones Jr.', on the occasion of 1958 World Amateur Team Championship playing for the Eisenhower Trophy United States non-playing captain. Additionally on this RARE tournament branded St Andrews map are signatures of significant dignitaries of the 'Home of Golf': Robert Leonard, the Provost of St Andrews and George Cunningham (later Sir) the past Captain of St Andrews (1950). It would be St Andrews where Bobby Jones first 'lost his temper' at the 1921 Open Championship and on this occasion in 1958 where Jones was made an Honorary member of the city.
As for the map itself, this 1924 dated Old Course of St Andrews lithograph is surveyed and depicted by the great Alister MacKenzie and colored by McCorquedale Co. of Glasgow, London - as written in the bottom right corner below. Incredibly detailed and accurate time-period illustration in a simple is only a year short of its 100th birthday. St Andrews' golf traces back to the mid-15th century, joining the Open Championship rotation of courses in 1873 when the victor native Tom Kidd won a mere 11 pounds - like his contemporaries, playing with heightened appreciation of the game and for his pride. This colored lithograph, unsigned, routinely commands a realized sum north of $1,000 in its past public offerings. This example of the aforementioned lithograph, with great value, represents an ideal specimen for any collector. Each of MacKenzie's 18 holes are listed with their name and 1924 measurement in the top left corner of this composition including the no. 17 road hole. A wide range of value dances throughout this map that is outfitted with a compass and scale on the left side of the landscape orientated piece. "Surveyed & Depicted by A. MacKenzie - Golf Course Architect - March 1924" is stylishly added to the bottom left corner in jet black. Please inspect photos for condition as there is some staining present along the bottom border. 26x13
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