Circa 1885 Rare 'Forgan 27' Line Cut Gutty Golf Ball with Silver Town on Opposite - Hardison Collection
'Silvertown' has a special ring to it in the ball collecting field. This scarce ball was once sold by the Forgan Shop that had opened their doors in St Andrews only 25 years before. Dual markings on this stunning sphere are those of both the ball manufacturer and distributor. This example was once chosen by 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.
The Golf Auction is proud to present our 2023 November Golf Memorabilia Auction. Please utilize the categories column to help you navigate towards your preferred collectibles. Bids must be placed before 10pm ET, Sunday, November 26th in order to participate in extended bidding. Please note that all initial bids must be placed BEFORE 10pm ET
AUCTION CLOSING RULES:
1. Place your initial bids BEFORE 10pm ET Sunday November 26th in order to bid on the item(s) during extended bidding
2. During extended bidding, you may only bid on items you PREVIOUSLY placed a bid on.
3. Lots with only ONE or NO BIDS at the time of auction close will close at 10pm ET
Extended bidding starts at 10pm ET, and all lots will begin closing with their own 30-minute countdown clock. Clock will reset to 30 minutes with each bid, please refresh your page. Thank you
Please Note: TGA will charge the Bidder/Buyer of the Item(s) a commission (Buyer’s Premium) of nineteen and one-half percent (19.5%) on the successful and final bid price of each of the Item(s) or lot(s) won. No discounts apply. No returns. TGA is not responsible for customs, duties, brokerage and/or similar charges on items shipped internationally. Placement of a bid in this auction constitutes acceptance of all of the terms and conditions in this auction. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.