2017 September President's Cup Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/1/2017
Edward Duke of Windsor Personal Low Round Scorecard & Signed Letter to Ben Hogan, With 2 Photos (All from Hogan Personal Collection)
Offered here is a letter from Edward Duke of Windsor (while at the Hotel du Palais, Biarritz France) to Ben Hogan, dated July 23rd, 1954. The one page typed letter signed simply Edward ("10" strength of signature) appears in near mint condition (one staple mark upper left hand corner) includes golf and Seminole content it reads as follows:
"Dear Ben,
Remembering our talk at Seminole last March and what you wrote in your book about the merits of long handicap players shooting once in a while in the seventies, the enclosed score card, documented by our mutual friend Chris Dunphy, represents the best effort of my golfing career.
Of course the "Golf de Biarritz" is short and easy compared to Seminole and all other great courses, and breaking sixty would'nt bother you at all. Still we played off the back tees yesterday and I holed out every putt. Chris had a 71.
Hoping you are well and that we will meet again in America next year, with Christopher's and my best wishes,
Sincerely
Edward"
Edward VIII was King of England for only one year, 1936, abdicating the throne to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson. He was Duke of Windsor after his abdication. With vast leisure time the Duke pursued his interests which were golf and gardening. Also included in this lot is a reply copy form Hogan (which appears to not have been sent) and two photos of Hogan shaking hands with Edward as his wife, Wallis looks on. Edward Duke of Windsor's personal scorecard signed from his record round at "Golf de Barritz" comes with this lot. It is attested to by legendary gambler and social friend of the rich and famous Chris Dunphy. Of Dunphy a 1960 Sports Illustrated article would say "In his world, the two most engrossing subjects in life are money and golf". Dunphy was a threat on the course having in 1952 set the amateur course record at Seminole with a 67.
James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed the signature of Edward, and their auction letter of authenticity will come with this lot
THE BOB COFFIN COLLECTION SOURCED FROM BEN HOGAN'S PERSONAL SECRETARY SHARON RAE
Bob Coffin is a man of action, as seen by a career of public service which began 35 years ago with his election to the Nevada Assembly. From that office Coffin was the people's choice for a seat in the Nevada State Senate. After serving in that position for the length that Nevada term limitations would allow, Coffin returned to his hometown of Las Vegas where he continues to serve his constituents as a city councilman to this day. For Coffin this passion for service to his country began with a stint in the United States Army, the same branch of service that his lifelong hero Ben Hogan had served in during World War II. Coffin a student of the Hogan approach to golf, learned his lessons well, so well, that he won the 1969 Nevada Amateur Golf Championship. Following that triumph it was only natural in 1979 that the hometown Las Vegas newspaper, the Review Journal, called on Bob to write a golf column for the paper. To this day accolades continue to pour in for this highly respected man in so many arenas be it golf, military, or politics. Most recently, he was named Person of the Year by the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Professional Golfers Association and received the Charles Dick Medal of Honor Award from the United States National Guard.
This career of public service over the lifetime of Bob Coffin offers much for us to respect. We owe him gratitude, but an even larger thank you as golf collectors is due him for his action in preserving the personal ephemera which belonged to Ben and Valerie Hogan. These mementos covering various stages of their storied lives had been gifted by both Ben and Valerie to their trusted personal secretary Sharon Rae (Please see photo that accompanies this lot of Mr. Hogan and Sharon Rae). Mrs. Rae following Ben's passing in 1997 became such a vital part of Mrs. Hogan's life that she accompanied her to both Ben Hogan's tribute at the 1999 Memorial Tournament and to the dedication of the United States Golf Association's Ben Hogan room that same year. Her prominence in the lives of the Hogan's was evident when she was remembered in both Ben's will with a cash bequest and a much larger bequest in Valerie's will. As a studious collector of Hogan material Bob Coffin stayed in contact with the Rae family, and following Sharon's passing was contacted by son Andy Rae. He informed Coffin that in his garage there is "still a bunch of stuff". Coffin, the man of action, caught a plane to Texas and completed a transaction that saved the Hogan collection as sourced through Sharon Rae for the golf collecting community. The Golf Auction is pleased with so much of the prized material of the Hogan's lifetime already placed in permanent homes to be able to make this offering. We recognize that it may be the last opportunity available to offer fresh Hogan material, which contains rock solid provenance, to the collectors of arguably the greatest golfer of the 20th century but certainly one of America's most idolized and interesting people of that century.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, October 1st, with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
Click above for larger image.