Incredible 1934 Masters Signed & Dated Autograph Book by Jones Jr & Sr, Champ & Majority of Field
Incredible is right! This 1930s-era autograph album was produced by the L. E. Waterman Co. of New York as part of a national promotional contest. The volume features a brown cloth hardcover with gold-colored stamped lettering on the front board. It contains the ownership marks of Samuel Waller of 2249 Walton Way, Augusta, Georgia (a town of 60,000 in 1934), including a handwritten inscription and a violet ink stamp. Sam has compiled one of if not the definitive grouping of autographs from the 1934 Masters (with a nod to the ANGC with the original registration sign-in for the event). Sam started his compilation of signatures from the first Masters on Tuesday of the initial event with a individual page of his album using a steel tip fountain pen (used throughout the book), he acquired the autographs of Grantland Rice (Golden Age of Sports legend who was already calling the tornament at hand the Masters) and Robert Purmedus Jones (father of Bobby known as "the Colonel" who would present the winner's check to Horton Smith on Sunday) each of these two signers in their hand has added March 20 - 1934. Also, that Tuesday the album was starting to fill with signatures of the contestants many dated by, the player, including Ralph Stonehouse (first shot Masters history), Leo Diegel (D-1951), Walter Hagen, and Cyril Walker (D-1948). Wednesday March 21,1934 saw player signatures added of Emmet French (one of three co-leaders after day one), Sam Parks Jr., Henry Picard (1938 Masters champ) and the prize of the day for autograph seekers Bobby Jones (event founder/Grand Slam winner). The week progressed to the historic first round of Masters play on March 22 with the most noted signature addition being Paul Runyan (leading money winner of 1933, paired with Jones). Sam continued to return each day throughout the tournament adding players in the field concluding with championship Sunday March 25th autograph from John Perelli. All told this album includes autographs of 64 of the 73 (incredible 88%) players that showed up to compete in the first Masters. The work of Sam that week may shed new light on what has most often been presented as 72 players that week (please see chart that lists 61 players turning in 4-day scores and 12 players that withdrew for 73 total). An additional separate page of this album finds that Sam returned to the Masters the following year for signatures and obtained top players of the day that included Tommy Armour, Lawson Little, and the star of the 1935 Masters with the "Shot Heard Round the World" Gene Sarazen. The album serves as a primary record of professional golf and tennis figures from the mid-1930s, specifically centered around the early years of the Masters Tournament in Augusta. Undated signatures include notable golfers such as Horton Smith (winner of the first Masters in 1934), Craig Wood (1941 champ), and John Golden (scarce, D-1936). The signatures are organized under various handwritten or printed headers including Master's Tournament, National, Augusta, and Tennis Professionals. Tennis signatures include professionals Bruce Barnes and Hans Nusslein. The book is an octavo format. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed these signatures and their full letter of authenticity ZZ82357 comes with this lot. Enduring chilly Georgia weather (only Masters to end in March), Sam's pursuits in obtaining autographs over the first week of play have left us with a historic documentation through penned dated signatures how that first week unfolded. Historians, museums, and elite autograph collectors start the bidding for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Finalists Posting Score (lowest to highest): Horton Smith, Craig Wood, Billy Burke, Paul Runyan, Ed Dudley, Willie MacFarlane, Al Espinosa, Jimmy Hines, Harold McSpaden, Macdonald Smith, Mortie Dutra, Al Waltrous, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Denny Shute, Leo Diegel, Ralph Stonehouse, Ky Laffoon, Johnny Revolta, Bill Schwartz, Johnny Golden, a-Charlie Yates, a-Johnny Dawson, Henry Picard, Henry Ciuci, Tom Creavy, Vic Ghezzi, Bobby Cruickshank, Jim Foulis, Mike Turnesa, Charles Lacey, John Kinder, Phil Perkins, a-George Dunlap, Joe Turnesa, Johnny Farrell, Joe Paletti , Errie Ball , Abe Espinosa, Gene Kunes, David Ogilvie, Tom Kerrigan, George Kerrigan, a-Ross Somerville, a-Willie Turnesa , Sam Parks, John Perelli, W.D. Fondren, a-Billy Howell, Fred McLeod, George Sargent, Charles Hall, George Jacobus, a-Walter Emery, a-Sam Perry, Jim Vincent, Willie Dow, a-Jess Sweetser, a-C.T. Wilson, a-Bayard Mitchell, Cyril Walker,
Withdrawn: Herman Barron, Fairley Clark, Harry Cooper, Wiffy Cox, A.C. Critchley, Emmet French, Al Houghton, Tony Manero, Wild Bill Melhorn, Dick Metz, C.G. Stevens, Frank Walsh.
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