Offered here is without question one of the finest pieces of Allan Robertson memorabilia in existence – An actual feather ball that was both made and used by Allan.
This ball originally sold at the Phillips July 14, 1992 auction in Edinburgh, Scotland, as lot 286, the companion ball to lot 285. The catalog reports the exceptional historical value of both balls and their recovery as detailed in an 1853 newspaper:
“The following two lots were discovered in a bottle within a wall of the original Union Clubhouse, St. Andrews, discovered when alterations took place upon the building of the R&A clubhouse. The Fifeshire Journal of Thursday, July 14th 1853 mentions that in a cavity within the wall, with copies of The Times, The Fifeshire Journal and the Fife Herald, were entombed two golf balls—one of gutta percha and another of leather, together with various masonic items.”
Both balls bore hand-written inscriptions. The Gutty ball was a random line cut gutty ball by Allan that was inscribed and dated 1849. The inscription on the feather ball, now offered here and also dated 1849, states that Allan both made and used this ball. According to the Phillips catalog, the inscription reads:
“This kind of golf ball made of leather and stuffed with feathers used for the last 200 years. This ball was made and used by Allan Robertson, golf ball maker, St Andrews 1849.”
In truth, the above description provided by Phillips is not quite clear. The July 14th issue of The Fifeshire Journal reports that the “two balls, one of leather and another of gutta percha,” were placed into the cavity to be covered by the “foundation stone” as part of a giant ceremony with thousands of onlookers. Also included in the cavity with the aforementioned newspapers, were a few “current coins,” an inscription, and “the roll of the Grand Lodge” with other masonic items.
The Fifeshire Journal continues, “The stone was then lowered into position” and the ceremony continued. The “Grand Master completed the work by striking the stone with the mallet . . . . The corn, wine, and oil were next poured out of the cornucopia and the silver vases on the stone, and the ceremony declared completed…amid the cheers of the assembled thousands, and the enlivening strains of the band.” What a day!
The balls were recovered 55 years later, when the foundation stone covering the cavity was removed to allow for the expansion of the R&A’s clubhouse. This was a large project approved on Oct. 1, 1898. The members used rooms at the Grand Hotel as temporary premises, as reported in the Feb 11, 1899 issue of The St. Andrews Citizen.
While the description in the Phillips catalog was not entirely clear in its details, it appears accurate on its main point—the two balls they sold were the two balls under the 1853 foundation stone. The in-depth writing on both balls regarding the balls and Allan, and the consignors knowledge of the recovery are far beyond the norm. Everything fits. Both balls were purchased by Jaime Ortiz-Patino and displayed at the golf museum at Valderrama Golf Club in Spain. Valderama hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997.
As this historic Allen feather ball remains today, 171 years after being placed under the foundation stone, the inscription is very difficult to read. When the ball is studied some of the words become apparent, but its mostly bits and pieces that remain.
The very tops of the letters in Allan’s name stamp can be seen to the left of the “27” (The top of the “A” and the top and lower right end of the first “L” can be clearly seen). The "27" is the weight of the ball as hand-written by Allen.
This ball is used and might not look pretty, but when you hold it in your hand you enter the world of Allan Robertson—King of Clubs, Champion Golfer of Scotland (thereby the world), mentor and playing partner of Tom Morris, feather ball maker extraordinaire, and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. It was Robertson’s untimely death at age 43 in 1859 that led to the creation of The Open Championship in 1860. Before his death, there was no need for such a tournament. Everyone knew Allan was the best. Everyone knew who “Allan” was with no need for his last name.