In the mid-1990s, famed golf memorabilia dealer Mort Olman scored what may be his most famous find in history – a collection of original 1800s scorecards from Leith Thistle Golf Club. These scorecards are the oldest original golf scorecards that exist. Instead of being tucked away in a museum or private golf club’s collection like most truly historic memorabilia, these famous scorecards have become cornerstone pieces of the finest private golf collections in the world.

Offered here is a 1824 Leith Thistle “Shield” scorecard – an exquisite 194 year old scorecard. Thistle Golf Club played its golf on the Leith Links alongside the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Among its many noteworthy accomplishments, Thistle Golf Club may be best-known for producing one of the first formal Rules of Golf in 1824 – the exact same year as this scorecard. Just how early is this scorecard in relation to golf history? Well, the scorecard consists of only 10 holes. The first-ever mention of a golf course being 18 holes wasn't until two decades later when the newly-named Royal & Ancient released its own set of rules.

This scorecard measures 3" x 4 3/8" and has been framed to 9" x 10 1/4".