Lot # 18: William Gourlay Sr. Feather Golf Ball with 1834 Notation

Category: Golf Balls

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 20 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer 2018 Auction",
which ran from 8/1/2018 8:30 PM to
8/18/2018 8:00 PM



The Gourlay family were some of the great early feather ball producers. Offered here is a high grade example from William Gourlay, Sr.. The ball itself is very clean, and the Wm. Gourlay stamp is one of the finest in existence. Even better, the ball has an early fountain pen handwritten notation on it - "Feather golf ball, latest manufactured 1834." We have to assume that the writer of that notation, surely well over 100 years ago, knew more information about this exact ball than we do now. But the 1834 date lines up accurately when William Gourlay, Sr. last produced feather balls (he passed away in 1836). His son, William Gourlay, Jr. also produced feather balls for the next several years, though mainly under the W&J Gourlay name, before his untimely death in 1844.

This "Wm. Gourlay" golf ball is in high grade condition. Very difficult to improve upon this ball. The Wm. Gourlay name stamp grades a 9+ out of 10.