1961 was the first year that the Masters Tournament issued a now-iconic "badge." For that reason, 1961 Masters Badges have long been the highlight of any badge collection. Badge collectors also challenged each other to see who could find the lowest number 1961 badge, with lower numbers selling for a lofty premium. Well you can't get a number lower that this - #000. 

So where did this badge come from? Well, the badge is almost certain to be a 1961 salesman's sample from the Bastian Bros badge and pin company in Rochester, NY. Several years ago this rare badge was discovered at an estate sale in Atlanta, Georgia alongside numerous other salesman samples and similar non-golf badges and pins from Bastian Bros., the producer of the 1961 Masters Badge. Amazingly, this elusive badge was given no special treatment whatsoever in the collection it was found in; it was just another sample badge among dozens of others from corporate events, festivals, and the like. 

Well, offered here is the elusive #000 badge from the very first year Masters Badges were produced, 1961. The badge is in excellent condition. For badge collectors, it certainly doesn't get much better than this.