Lot 219: [ Sporting Memorabilia / Cricket ]

Lees, Charles (1800-1880). The Golfers: A Grand Match Played Over the St. Andrews Links. Hand-colored steel engraving by Charles E. Wagstaffe after the original oil painting by Charles Lees. 21x34 image on a 25x36 overall sheet. Printed by W. Wolding, Edin. This one stated "Proof" in lower left margin Edinburgh: Alexander Hill, 1850 Unlike others offered recently at auction, this engraving is marked Proof. The work shows a moment captured from the 1841 Royal & Ancient annual meeting. The scene depicts the encounter between Sir David Baird and Sir Ralph Anstruther playing against Major Playfair and John Campbell. Dozens of other well known golfers can be identified by the key made at the time of painting, and included in reference texts. The original painting by Charles Lees was finished in 1847 and measured 4'3"x7'. Three years later, "[Charles] Wagstaff's black-and-white line engraving was published by Hill in 1850 and can be seen in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the R & A collection. So e prints were then coloured..." -Golfing Art, edited by Phil Pilley, (1988 p.36. Olman's Encyclopedia of Golf Collectibles (1985), p. 171; Golf in Art by Michael Hobbs, (1996), p. 35. Dampstained at left edge, and upper and lower corner, mostly marginal, but extend approximately 1/4 " into the image, marginal dampstain on bottom right edge; loosely mounted to an old board matte; lightly foxed at margins; a very good and scarce example of the early proof issue of the engraving.