This is a scarce original Carte de Visite photograph of John Whyte Melville, who is known as "Father of the Club" by the Royal & Ancient. John White-Melville (1797-1883) played an immensely important part in the history of the game of golf. He became a member of the Royal & Ancient Club in 1816 and was elected Captain of the Club in 1823. He was elected Captain again 60 years later, though died before taking office. Whyte Melville was also key in the unification of the R&A and the Union Clubs, and laid the foundation stone of the clubhouse in 1853.

This is a original circa late 1850s to early 1860s CdV photograph of John Whyte Melville. The photograph was taken by St Andrews photographer Thomas Rodger, who was the 1st professional photographer in St Andrews. One interesting thing to note is that the reverse contains the inscription "father of novelist." Even though John Whyte Melville is famous in the golf world in 2016, back in 1860 his son was an acclaimed novelist and was far more famous throughout Scotland.

Like all CdVs produced circa 1860 (e.g. nearly all Abraham Lincoln photographs from the same period), this is an albumen photograph on thick card stock measures 2 1/2" x 4".