c.1953 Masters Tournament Periscope w/Past Champs Signatures Listed - Rare
From the early 1950's time frame when Ben Hogan and Sam Snead dominated the Masters scene alternating in the green jacket presentation ceremonies with Hogan the champ in 1951, Sam Snead in 1952, Hogan taking it again in '53 and finally Snead in '54. With the excitement of this duo, and the post World War II feel good fifties in full swing crowds swelled at the Augusta National for the Masters. The 1955 winner Cary Middlecoff's name not on this periscope, then yet to receive a green jacket. With this influx of patrons came poorer and poorer sight lines of tournament action. The solution came with this periscope giving fans five rows back the same view as patrons in the first row.
An official souvenir of the Masters as sold by the Augusta National Club, this creatively decorated display piece shows block lettered listing of each of the Masters champs from the origin in 1934-Horton Smith through the 1953 champion Ben Hogan. These highly collectible Masters optic dandies distributed at Augusta National were often discarded or mangled at the end of tournament play, delicate cardboard that almost never stood the test of time. 'Souvenir of The Masters Augusta National Club' reads the side of it, with 10 champs on the broad side facing the course, all of those up to Hogan as previously mentioned (Snead originally just above Demaret). For this example to survive nearly 75 years later, mirrors still intact with the aid of just reinforcement tape and little toning as depicted is a true anomaly. A true treasure of early Masters marketing efforts, Augusta National themselves displaying an example of it in their clubhouse next to trophies and awards. How's that for a nod to this piece's significance?
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