2020 November Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/16/2020
1934 Augusta National Invitation Tournament Program (First Masters) - New Find Sourced From Original Member!
Augusta National produced a very limited number of programs for its first tournament in 1934 due to financial constraints, and fear of limited interest in the event. This lot contains one of these seldom seen 1934 programs. The 1934 Augusta Invitation Tournament program was produced to be used as an advertising tool to solicit new membership for the Augusta National Golf Club and to make some much needed revenue for Bobby Jones' start-up club. This highly treasured ephemera is in excellent condition presenting with lily white pages. The simple detracting element to the condition of this program is the absence of one of the staples from the spine, please see images for better understanding of the superior condition of the publication. This program is the first edition of the original program (printed and distributed prior to the inaugural Masters). The offered version here carries a premium over a later printing of the inaugural program which contains the final scoring of Horton Smith in his 1934 victory. Its second printing which is more frequently discovered was used post-championship as an advertising tool to solicit membership and additional tournament sponsors for the 1935 event. This program belonged to an original Augusta National member in Jerome Franklin from Augusta, Ga. Mr. Franklin at a later date removed his photograph presenting him as a member with a clean cut and omitted from the program, please see photo 8. Under 60 copies of this program are known to exist. This highly desired, yet seldom found heirloom is the pinnacle to advance any Masters or golf collection.
Below is a excerpt from David Owen's book on Augusta and the Start of the Masters regarding the 1934 Program: "The program was forty-four pages long and contained a map of the course, descriptions of the holes (written by MacKenzie), photographs of the clubhouse and other points of interest, historical information about the property, photographs of most of the members of the club, and several dozen advertisements. It sold for twenty-five cents. Over-represented among the advertisers were the club's numerous creditors, who had been offered space in lieu of payment."
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