Golf legend advertising cards reach big money at auction
Two extremely rare advertising cards featuring golf legend Bobby Jones far exceed expectations at auction.
Two rare advertising cards featuring golf legend and Masters co-founder Bobby Jones have sold for just shy of £4,000 at auction.
Cards of the 13-time major champion far exceeded expectations at Graham Budd's most recent sporting auction when they sold for a combined total of £3,900 despite only being estimated to sell for £700.
Jones, who died aged 69 in 1971, was one of the most influential figures in our sport.
He helped design the famous Augusta National Golf Club and he co-founded The Masters.
Jones won the U.S. Open four times between 1923 and 1930, and he etched his name on the famous Claret Jug at The Open three times.
The American also won the U.S. Amateur five times and the British Amateur once, both tournaments that were considered majors back in the day.
He won a unique Grand Slam in 1930.
Jones' best result at The Masters was a T13 in 1934 and he never competed in the U.S. PGA.
He continued to play The Masters on an exhibition basis until 1948.
Bobby Jones Major Wins
U.S. Open | Won: 1923, 1926, 1929, 1930 |
|---|---|
The Open Championship | Won: 1926, 1927, 1930 |
U.S. Amateur | Won: 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930 |
British Amateur | Won: 1930 |
Jones was without question the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete at a national and international level.
He earned his living mainly as a lawyer and competed in golf only as an amateur, primarily on a part-time basis.
Jones chose to retire from competition early aged 28 due to health reasons, though he earned significant money from golf after that as an instructor and equipment designer.
He then retired from golf permanently in 1948 and sadly died of cardiovascular disease in 1971.
But back to the top of the story, and two extremely rare advertising cards featuring Jones fetched big money at a recent sports auction.
Lot 3 - Rare Bobby Jones No.9 The Driver advertising card reached £900, surpassing the expected £350.
Lot 4 - Rare Bobby Jones No.1 The Putter advertising card reached £3000, surpassing the expected £350.
David Convery, Head of Sporting Memorabilia at Graham Budd Auctions said: "That these two tiny adverts could sell for almost £4,000 combined is testament to the legacy of Bobby Jones, almost 100 years later.
"Jones is still regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and he shaped the game for generations to come."
The cards consisted of ‘The Driver’ and ‘The Putter’, with the Putter card alone selling for £3000.
Convery said: "The number one putter card in particular quickly smashed through the price estimate of £250 - £350, and competing bids from around the world led it to sell for £3,000.
The cards were advertising the showing of Bobby Jones’ film “How I Play Golf” at The Empire in Huddersfield, in 1932.
“Bobby Jones' film coming to The Empire cinema in Huddersfield would have been an exciting event for the town, the original owner of the cards must have kept them safe, as they remain in brilliant condition," added Convery.
The Driver advertising card sold for £900.
For more information about Graham Budd auctions, please click here
