Society of Goffers at Blackheath Mezzotint - Lemuel Abbott framed Engraving

The print retains its original colours and detail, providing us with a wonderful insight into the early origins of the game of golf.

Thought to be one of the first golf portraits ever to be widely published, the Blackheath golf course depicted in the print was a basic five-to-seven-hole golf format, its members being wealthy merchants. Society records tell us the Blackheath club had 45 members at the time depicted in this print. The print itself shows Captain William Innes (1719-1795), captain, and an unnamed Greenwich Hospital Naval pensioner serving as caddie.
The quality engraving was created from the much larger original painting by Lemuel Francis Abbott in 1790.
Based on the paper type, printers margin and footer details we believe this to be an early print circa 1800. I don’t believe this is one of the original 45 copies produced for members of the Blackheath Society It was reproduced/resized several times throughout the later Victorian/Edwardian era.

After Lemuel Francis Abbott
To the Society of Goffers at Blackheath, by Valentine Green
Mezzotint, laid paper, a fine impression, published 1790 by L. F. Abbott, London, with full margins as published,

In a very good vintage condition with no damages
Frame is fine
shows marks due to age