2016 Ryder Cup Week Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/2/2016
Horton Smith Signed "In His Prime" Golf Ball with French Open Champion Inscription - John Roth Collection
Worthy of the finest autograph or Golf memorabilia collections, a single look at this rarity confirms its extraordinary character and places it among the hobby's finest signed high-grade items. One of the top professional golfers of the 1930's, Horton Smith will forever be known as the champion of the first Masters in 1934. He added a second win at Augusta in 1936 among his 32 career PGA triumphs. In 1930, he was the only player to defeat Bobby Jones in his Grand Slam season. Smith was also a top player in the early Ryder Cup competitions appearing in five consecutive events from 1929-37. Most of what Smith signed in this time period was autograph books and match tickets. In later life he penned numerous letters as the President of the PGA. However, it was virtually unheard of for patrons or fellow participants during the first half of the 20th Century to ask for a golf ball to be autographed. The offered golf ball is the anomaly of the time, the earliest known example from Smith's hand. The strength of fountain pen ink which flowed from Smith's pen remains crisp and bold, grading at least "9" in quality. The style of this clean signature is undoubtedly from the stated period, and carries an added notation "French Open Champion" in Smith's hand as notated on the James Spence Authentication full letter of authenticity Z14303 which will accompany this lot. Smith would win the French Open (officially known today as the French PGA Championship) on the day he turned 21, his first important pro triumph, in 1929. The World Golf Hall of Famer was the first past Masters Champion to decease when he passed away in 1963 at 55. Of the few surviving Horton Smith signed golf balls this one rises to the top for it's early career fountain pen inking with dating personal notation, and high grade autograph quality. This was one of the most prized items in the John Roth collection. Please bid accordingly.
**THE JOHN ROTH COLLECTION**
The Ryder Cup Auction features many items from the collection of John Roth (1940-2015.) John spent 25 years amassing a collection of golf memorabilia and golf antiques that would rival most of the golf museums around the globe. John had a passion for the history and nuance of the game, its traditions and the ever-changing evolution of the manufacture of its equipment. John was a member of the Golf Collectors Society, and actively participated in many of its events around the country. John was also a long-time player in the Society of Hickory Golfers’ tournaments around the country, which honor the traditions of the game by playing with antique, wooden-shafted clubs. During his lifelong participation in the two organizations, John won or placed highly in several tournaments and made many lifelong friends with whom he found camaraderie in his pursuit of all things golf. It is his family’s wish that the items that John treasured so much find loving new homes where they can continue to be enjoyed and tell the history of the sport that meant so much to their husband and father.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, October 2nd 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
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