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 himself, 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.

1891 Old Tom Morris 70th Birthday Portrait

In the collecting world, this is what’s described as a “miracle piece” - as in, it's a miracle that this item still exists, especially outside of a museum. This exact photograph is believed to have been one of Old Tom's most cherished possessions, and may have even hung over the mantle in Old Tom Morris' Golf Shop during his life.

It was commissioned to celebrate Old Tom's 70th birthday on June 16, 1891. Amazingly, the photograph itself was taken (and signed!) by the Inaugural (1885) British Amateur Champion Allan MacFie. The portrait is inscribed in MacFie’s own hand: TOM MORRIS, Champion Golfer, 1861, 62, 64 and 67, Photo by AF MacFie, Amateur Champion 1885. This is one of only two known autographs of the first British Amateur Champion.

The piece itself measures 9" x 12 1/4", the image portion 6 1/4" x 8", and professionally framed by celebrated Philadelphia antiquities specialist Ursula Hobson to 15 1/4" x 18 1/2".

Letter of Provenance from Golden Age