Rare collection of three Victorian football medals won by England International footballer, Arthur Melmoth Walters playing for one of the leading amateur teams of his era, Old Carthusians.
One of the medals is in 15ct gold, another is in at least 9ct gold and the third is in sterling silver with gold highlights.
Medal 1: FA Amateur Cup Runners Up Medal 1894 - 95. This rare medal is from the second ever FA Amateur Cup Final played at Headingley Stadium between Middlesbrough FC and Old Carthusians. Old Carthusians were the cup holders having won the first ever Final the previous year, beating Casuals 2- 1.
On this occasion Middlesbrough bear Old Carthusians 2 - 1 and Arthur Walters was presented with the Runner-Up medal for sale. It is stamped Vaughton & Sons but unusually is not hallmarked, however it has been professionally tested as at least 9ct gold.
Weight: 11.0 gm. Diameter: 25 mm. Maker's Mark: Vaughton & Sons.
Medal 2: London Senior Cup Winners Medal 1894 - 95. This medal is in 15ct gold and unusually has been engraved with the score of the game so Old Carthusians must have been very proud of their victory. I believe the 6 - 0 scoreline against Casuals remained a record for the Final of the London Senior Cup.
The front of the medal bears the London Crest & is embossed:
"LONDON FOOTBALL ASSOCN. CHALLENGE CUP"
The obverse is engraved:
"O. C's v CASUALS 30 April 1895. Won 6 - 0"
Around the rim has been engraved the name of the player "A.M. WALTERS".
This was the 13th Final of the London Senior Cup which was first played in 1882 - 83. It was the first time Old Carthusians won the trophy, having lost the Final the previous year 2 - 1 to Old Westminsters (see my other medal for sale).
Weight: 11.3 gm. Diameter: 25 mm. Hall Mark: Birmingham 1894. Maker's Mark: Vaughton & Sons.
Medal 3: London Senior Cup Runners Up Medal 1893 - 94. This medal is in sterling silver with gold highlights. The front of the medal bears the London Crest & is embossed:
"LONDON FOOTBALL ASSOCN. CHALLENGE CUP"
The obverse has not been engraved.
This was the 12th Final of the London Senior Cup which was first played in 1882 - 83. This was the first time Old Carthusians reached the Final, losing the game 2 - 1 to Old Westminsters.
Weight: 10.6 gm. Diameter: 26 mm. Hall Mark: Birmingham 1893. Maker's Mark: Vaughton & Sons.
PROVENANCE: All three medals were purchased together from the same collection through Rye Auctions in March 2020.
Arthur Melmoth Walters (26th January 1865 - 2nd May 1941): An English amateur footballer who played as a defender for Old Carthusians and the Corinthians in the late 19th century and played 9 full internationals for England. He later became president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
He and his elder brother, Percy Melmoth Walters, were affectionately known as "Morning" and "Afternoon" due to their initials being "AM" & "PM". The brothers were regarded as the finest fullbacks in England for a number of years with Percy receiving 13 full England caps so between the brothers they earned 22 England caps and played a number of games together as fullbacks for England.
Old Carthusians FC: An association football club whose players are former pupils of Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey. The club was established in 1876 and amazingly won the FA Cup in 1881. They went on to win the first FA Amateur Cup in 1894 and were runners up the following year (1895) (see medal for sale). They won the FA Amateur Cup again in 1897.
NOTE: I feel this is an important collection of three early football medals won by a noted England International & I am keen the collection stays together. I feel this is important as only one of the medals is engraved with the player's name and if the medals are split up the provenance will be lost.
There is an interesting story here so I have compiled an A5 booklet which includes details of both Arthur Walters and his brother Percy Walters. Also included are details of Old Carthusians FC, Early FA Amateur Cup Finals and early London Senior Cup Finals. Images of the three medals won by Arthur Walters are included with details of the games they relate to. Included in the booklet is an image of the Old Carthusians team featuring both Arthur Walters and Percy Walters. There are further images of Arthur Walters wearing his England shirt.
Summary: As can be seen from the photos & history (above) this is a rare collection of early football medals won by one of the most famous footballers of his day, Arthur Walters, from an era where amateur footballers could be capped for England. An era long gone which we will never see again! Good luck!