Museum-Grade Antique 1890s Geo. G. Bussey & Co. Wimbledon Hexagon No. 3 Wooden Tennis Racket - Victorian Era Rare Concave Handle Collectible

**An Exceptional Piece of Tennis History: Antique 1890s Geo. G. Bussey & Co. "Wimbledon Hexagon No. 3" Wooden Racket**

Up for listing is an incredibly rare, museum-quality piece of late Victorian sports heritage: an authentic **Geo. G. Bussey & Co. "Wimbledon Hexagon No. 3"** wooden tennis racket, meticulously crafted in London, England, circa 1885-1895.

George Gibson Bussey was an elite Victorian-era manufacturer renowned for premium quality and avant-garde sporting patents. This legendary "Hexagon" model features Bussey's highly coveted, patented concave hexagonal handle grip. Long before modern leather overgrips existed, Bussey engineered this specialized grooved wooden handle to provide players with an ergonomic, non-slip grip during high-stakes lawn tennis matches.

**Fascinating Historic Details:**
- **The Throat Stamp:** Beautifully deep-stamped with the round "Wimbledon Hexagon 3" emblem and the official maker's mark: "GEO. G. BUSSEY & CO."
- **The Butt Cap:** Features the fully intact, original embossed leather butt cap showing the famous historical instruction: *"KEEP IN PRESS WHEN NOT IN USE"* alongside the classic Bussey arrow logo. This reminds us of an era when players had to lock their wooden frames into wooden press clamps to prevent warping.
- **The Frame & Strings:** Displays the classic delicate frame silhouette and historic side-groove stringing channels indicative of late 19th-century craftsmanship.

**Specifications:**
- Maker: Geo. G. Bussey & Co. (London)
- Model: Wimbledon Hexagon No. 3
- Era: Late Victorian (c. 1890s)
- Composition: Solid Ash/Mahogany wood tones
- Origin: Made in England

**Condition Report:**
This 130+ year-old antique is in remarkable, highly preserved structural condition for its age. The wood frame retains a gorgeous rich patina and is completely free of severe structural cracks or major warping. The original throat stamps and leather butt-cap text are perfectly legible. The ancient gut strings are mostly intact, though they show natural breakage and brittle separation in the center due to over a century of climate aging (fully documented in photos, adding immense historical character).

This is an extraordinary investment piece, investment-grade sports artifact, and conversational centerpiece. Perfect for premium interior design, luxury tennis country clubs, or serious sports museums.

**Shipping & Handling:**
Given the immense historical value and fragility of this antique, it will be wrapped in multiple layers of specialty archival protection and shipped globally using a premium, fully tracked, and completely insured courier service.

Serious inquiries and international collectors are welcome. Please study the photos carefully and feel free to reach out with any questions!