The Blackheath Golfer Reverse Glass Print

To The Society Of Goffers At Blackheath

This plate is with just respect dedicated by their most humble servant.

Valentine Green after Lemuel Francis Abbott.

An extremely rare mezzotint reverse glass print depicting William Innes (1760-1803), captain of the Society of Golfers at Blackheath (London) now known as the Royal Blackheath Golf Club.

This was the first golf print ever to be published.

Innis, a wealthy London sugar merchant and captain of the Society of Golfers at Blackheath, commissioned Lemuel Francis Abbott to paint his portrait, “full-size in 1790. Innis is depicted wearing a long red coat and is holding a club over his shoulder and is a accompanied by his caddy, one of the many retired sailors from Greenwich who served as caddies.

Valentine Green was commissioned to produce a mezzotint engraving of the painting dedicated and for sale to “The Society of Goffers at Blackheath.” The first impressions came from a run of only 50 prints - which were just enough to sell to each member of the club. This is the first reverse glass print of the image that I have discovered.

Presented in a contemporary Hogarth frame.