The “Stable Find”
In the mid-1990s, one of the most important discoveries in golf collecting history was made: Old Tom Morris’ personal golf photographs.
Eric Auchterlonie – of the famed St Andrews golfing family – passed away in his home in Pitscottie, Fife, just outside of St Andrews. On the property grounds, inside an old horse stable and hidden behind two large hessian coal stacks, was one of the most historically significant golf collections in the world. Word of this so-called “Stable Find” quickly spread throughout collecting circles.
The collection – consisting of more than 40 original photographs from the 1800s – is believed to have been personally owned by the legendary Old Tom Morris, and then passed down in the Auchterlonie family for almost 90 years.
According to family lore, upon Old Tom’s death in 1908, the photos were given by the Morris family to his former apprentice (and 1893 Open Champ) Willie Auchterlonie. The photos were then housed at the Auchterlonie’s Golf Shop on Albany Place in St Andrews for more than three decades. They were then relocated to the company’s Union Street location for safekeeping during the air raids of World War II. The collection was then passed down through the Auchterlonie family until its fateful re-discovery in the now-famous “Stable Find” by two prominent golf collectors in the mid-1990s.
During Old Tom’s life, these photographs likely decorated the walls of Old Tom Morris’ golf shop next to St Andrews’ famed 18th green, or were even displayed in the Morris family home above the shop. Several photos were also discovered in black funeral frames – likely last seeing the light of day when all of St Andrews mourned the loss of Old Tom in 1908. According to the Auchterlonie family, many of the photos were put on display in 1911 to help decorate the St Andrews Town Hall during a Ball for local citizens. The Auchterlonie family also allowed some of the photos to be displayed at the Old Tom Morris Golf Shop next to St Andrews’ 18th green during the 1970 Open Championship.
c1870 Young Tom & Old Tom Morris Cabinet Card Photograph
Offered here is Old Tom Morris’ personal copy of arguably the most significant 19th century golf image.
When this photograph was first sold in 2013, it commanded a price of nearly $20,000 - then a world record price for a golf photograph. Since that time, prices of vintage sports photography have exploded. The current record price for a golf photograph is over $82,000, though numerous other sports photographs have sold for several hundred thousand dollars including multiple Mickey Mantle photographs for $1 million each.
Historians have long debated when this photo was taken, though current scholarship dates it to the days following Tommy's 1870 Open Championship victory. This was Young Tom's 3rd consecutive victory, which allowed him to keep the Challenge Belt for good.
Take a good look at the quality and clarity of this photograph by celebrated early St Andrews photographer Thomas Rodger. It is unquestionably the finest 19th century golf photograph we've ever seen.
The cabinet card is 5 1/4" x 7 1/4" and professionally framed by celebrated Philadelphia antiquities specialist Ursula Hobson to 11 1/2" x 13 1/2".
Letter of Provenance from Golden Age