Previously Unknown Francis Ouimet

Photograph from 1913 U.S. Open

    For fan of American golf history, this is the rarest of the rare - a previously unknown original photograph of Francis Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open. The 1913 U.S. Open was sparsely attended by photographers, and the ones there were really only there to record Harry Vardon and Ted Ray's seemingly inevitably triumph. To this day, only a handful of original images from Francis Ouimet's historic victory have surfaced, most of which you've no doubt seem reproduced a thousand times each. But offered here is a true connoiseur's piece - a never-before-seen image of a relaxed (yet smiling!) Francis Ouimet posing with his bag while wearing an entirely-too-large overcoat. Ouimet, clearly aware that the camera is pointed at him, is seen holding the exact bag that we all recognize from seeing photos of his 10 year old caddie Eddie Lowery lug it around Brookline during the 1913 U.S. Open.

        The NEA date on the reverse is a later reference desk date, but the photo unquestionably dates to the 1913 U.S. Open. The Press Illustrating Service Inc. stamp on the back also dates to 1913-1914. This 5x7" silver gelatin original is in exceptional condition with a light stain on the upper left. One of the best Ouimet images in the world, period!