Significant 1880's Gutta Percha (Kirkwood Collection)

        The gutta percha ball changed golf forever. Many historians point to the invention of the gutta percha ball as the single most important golf innovation of all-time. Before this ball, golf was almost exclusively reserved for the aristocrats, who were pretty much the only people who could afford handmade featheries to play with. Now, with the popularity of the inexpensive gutta percha, golf was finally brought to the masses.

        Presented here is a significant gutta percha golf ball in every aspect - due to its quality, its historical context, and its provenance.

        This circa 1880 gutta percha ball is in exception condition, and still contains approximately 90's of its original paint. It is a very fine specimen from the era. But this is not just any gutta percha, this exact ball was purchased by Joe Kirkwood, Sr. when he traveled to the Open Championship in the 1920's. Kirkwood won 13 times on the PGA Tour between 1923-1933, but is probably best known as the trick shot artist that traveled the world playing golf exhibitions with Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen.

        This significant gutta percha ball comes with a handwritten letter from Kirkwood's son, Ron Kirkwood.