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Notes on Yachts (First Series) -
Edwin Brett
1869 - Sampson Low, London - First Edition
A superb example of this rare instructional, dealing with the design of yachts, together with a short overview of yacht sailing. Illustrated with frontispiece from a drawing by John Brett, engraved by J. D. Cooper.
Despite the notification of this being the first Series in the title, there were no further series published.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1869 - Sampson Low, London - First Edition
A superb example of this rare instructional, dealing with the design of yachts, together with a short overview of yacht sailing. Illustrated with frontispiece from a drawing by John Brett, engraved by J. D. Cooper.Despite the notification of this being the first Series in the title, there were no further series published.
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Price HK$ 2,800
The Arts of Rowing and Training, with an appendix containing the laws of boat-racing, etc., by Argonaut . -
Brickwood Argonaut
1866 - Horace Cox, 346 - First Edition
A near fine and rare first edition of ‘in all probability the earliest comprehensive work on the technique of rowing’. It was written to supply “the want of a concise, yet withal comprehensive, manual on boat-racing”. Only one previous writer, says the preface, had “been found willing to bequeath to his successors the results of his observation and the fruits of his experience; and even he, if I am not mistaken, excelled rather as a coxswain than as an oarsman”. The reference is probably to A. T. Shadwell.
The contents, which “embody the precepts which have of late contributed to the repeated successes of the Oxford University crew”, are arranged in 2 parts. Part I, “Rowing”, includes chapters on boats and their fittings, the art of rowing, coaching, steering, sculling, examples of form and style, and the conduct of regattas. The chapters on coaching deplore the contemporary sacrifice of form to pace. The chapter on boats gives an interesting account of the development of outrigged boats and a table of dimensions and prices.
In Part II, “Training”, running before breakfast is condemned, meat should be “just done to a turn, as it is called, not blue or half raw”, and the author expresses his opinion that a limited amount of smoking should be permitted except in exceptional cases.’ No raw vegetables or green tea, but make sure to have a beer with lunch (p. 133-134).
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Price HK$ 11,000
1866 - Horace Cox, 346 - First Edition
A near fine and rare first edition of ‘in all probability the earliest comprehensive work on the technique of rowing’. It was written to supply “the want of a concise, yet withal comprehensive, manual on boat-racing”. Only one previous writer, says the preface, had “been found willing to bequeath to his successors the results of his observation and the fruits of his experience; and even he, if I am not mistaken, excelled rather as a coxswain than as an oarsman”. The reference is probably to A. T. Shadwell.The contents, which “embody the precepts which have of late contributed to the repeated successes of the Oxford University crew”, are arranged in 2 parts. Part I, “Rowing”, includes chapters on boats and their fittings, the art of rowing, coaching, steering, sculling, examples of form and style, and the conduct of regattas. The chapters on coaching deplore the contemporary sacrifice of form to pace. The chapter on boats gives an interesting account of the development of outrigged boats and a table of dimensions and prices.
In Part II, “Training”, running before breakfast is condemned, meat should be “just done to a turn, as it is called, not blue or half raw”, and the author expresses his opinion that a limited amount of smoking should be permitted except in exceptional cases.’ No raw vegetables or green tea, but make sure to have a beer with lunch (p. 133-134).
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Price HK$ 11,000
Boat Racing: or The Arts of Rowing and Training -
Edwin Dampier Brickwood (Amateur Ex-Champion of The Thames)
1876 - Horace Cox, 346 Strand - New Edition
Fine example of the rare second edition of ‘the earliest comprehensive work on the technique of rowing’ which adds the wonderful albumen photograph of an elegantly calm Henley and has been expanded with alterations bringing it up to date with the addition of historical matter. The most important being the invention and acceptance of the sliding seat between the first edition of 1866 and this second edition of 1876.
Brickwood is insistent on a good balance of work, diet, sleep and cleanliness. Breakfast of mutton chops or rump steaks, to which can be added some cold chicken or hot grilled fowl, an egg or two, lettuce or watercress, brown bread, and two cups of tea, lunch includes a slice or two of bread and butter and a half a pint of good sound ale, perhaps with a chop, dinner, being the main meal of the day is too large to list here, but should include a pint and a half of sound beer in the summer months, with a couple of glasses of claret, sherry, or port wine to finish it all off with. A glass of warm port wine or cup of tea without milk or sugar but with a teaspoonful of brandy is recommended between heats on race day....
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Price HK$ 10,000
1876 - Horace Cox, 346 Strand - New Edition
Fine example of the rare second edition of ‘the earliest comprehensive work on the technique of rowing’ which adds the wonderful albumen photograph of an elegantly calm Henley and has been expanded with alterations bringing it up to date with the addition of historical matter. The most important being the invention and acceptance of the sliding seat between the first edition of 1866 and this second edition of 1876.Brickwood is insistent on a good balance of work, diet, sleep and cleanliness. Breakfast of mutton chops or rump steaks, to which can be added some cold chicken or hot grilled fowl, an egg or two, lettuce or watercress, brown bread, and two cups of tea, lunch includes a slice or two of bread and butter and a half a pint of good sound ale, perhaps with a chop, dinner, being the main meal of the day is too large to list here, but should include a pint and a half of sound beer in the summer months, with a couple of glasses of claret, sherry, or port wine to finish it all off with. A glass of warm port wine or cup of tea without milk or sugar but with a teaspoonful of brandy is recommended between heats on race day....
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Price HK$ 10,000
Billiards -
Major William Broadfoot
1896 - Longmans, London and Bombay - Number 193 of 250 Large Paper Deluxe Edition
A handsome copy of this large and comprehensive limited edition, an informative history and guide to the game of billiards, with contributions by A.H. Boyd, Sydenham Dixon, W.J. Ford, Dudley D. Pontifex, Russell D. Walker, and Reginald Rimington-Wilson.
Illustrated with eleven full page black and white plates by artist Lucien Davies, and numerous drawings and diagrams throughout the text.
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Price HK$ 3,500
1896 - Longmans, London and Bombay - Number 193 of 250 Large Paper Deluxe Edition
A handsome copy of this large and comprehensive limited edition, an informative history and guide to the game of billiards, with contributions by A.H. Boyd, Sydenham Dixon, W.J. Ford, Dudley D. Pontifex, Russell D. Walker, and Reginald Rimington-Wilson.Illustrated with eleven full page black and white plates by artist Lucien Davies, and numerous drawings and diagrams throughout the text.
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Price HK$ 3,500
The Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland -
William Leadbetter Calderwood
1909 - Edward Arnold, London - First Edition
A finely bound example of this early twentieth century classic and comprehensive work on salmon fishing, with detailed descriptions and personal views of each salmon river and loch, supported with illustrations throughout including four colour plates, thirty-four photographic plates and eighteen full page maps with colour outline.
Calderwood was one of the first to note the danger of overfishing and the importance of Salmon conservation, and what did and did not affect the run of Salmon. He was also the first to show that Salmon could be aged by growth rings on their scales.
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Price HK$ 5,500
1909 - Edward Arnold, London - First Edition
A finely bound example of this early twentieth century classic and comprehensive work on salmon fishing, with detailed descriptions and personal views of each salmon river and loch, supported with illustrations throughout including four colour plates, thirty-four photographic plates and eighteen full page maps with colour outline.Calderwood was one of the first to note the danger of overfishing and the importance of Salmon conservation, and what did and did not affect the run of Salmon. He was also the first to show that Salmon could be aged by growth rings on their scales.
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Price HK$ 5,500
The Borders and Beyond -
Abel Chapman
1924 - Gurney and Jackson, London - First Edition
A bright copy of this informative work of field exploration and natural history in Northumberland and the Anglo-Scottish borderlands.
Hunter-naturalist Chapman includes chapters on the British red grouse, the wildfowl of the north east coast, a search for the ‘moorland nymph’, salmonology, seagulls, woodcocks and herons, ravens, and the otter, together with a commentary on ‘modern zoology’, and extensive particulars on the migrations and plumage-phases in certain waders, to which he gave the name ‘Globe-Spanners’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with seventeen wonderful colour illustrations (on fourteen plates) by W.H. Riddell, twenty one black and white plates, two folding maps, and 170 sketches by the author.
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Price HK$ 1,000
1924 - Gurney and Jackson, London - First Edition
A bright copy of this informative work of field exploration and natural history in Northumberland and the Anglo-Scottish borderlands. Hunter-naturalist Chapman includes chapters on the British red grouse, the wildfowl of the north east coast, a search for the ‘moorland nymph’, salmonology, seagulls, woodcocks and herons, ravens, and the otter, together with a commentary on ‘modern zoology’, and extensive particulars on the migrations and plumage-phases in certain waders, to which he gave the name ‘Globe-Spanners’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with seventeen wonderful colour illustrations (on fourteen plates) by W.H. Riddell, twenty one black and white plates, two folding maps, and 170 sketches by the author.
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Price HK$ 1,000
The Riddle of the Sands -
Erskine Childers
1903 - Smith, London - First Edition, First Impression
A crisp, clean and rare first edition, finely bound.
Written after Childers, an accomplished yachtsman, returned injured from action in South Africa. Highlighting the encroaching conflict with Germany, the novel was highly influential and is actually credited with the founding of British naval bases at Invergordon and Scapa Flow; newly regarded as strategically important after examination of the scenarios in Childers' text. Winston Churchill later gave the book the credit for persuading public opinion to fund vital measures against the German naval threat.
Contentiously described as the first modern spy thriller, vying for the title with Kipling's 'Kim', published two years earlier.
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Price HK$ 21,000
1903 - Smith, London - First Edition, First Impression
A crisp, clean and rare first edition, finely bound.Written after Childers, an accomplished yachtsman, returned injured from action in South Africa. Highlighting the encroaching conflict with Germany, the novel was highly influential and is actually credited with the founding of British naval bases at Invergordon and Scapa Flow; newly regarded as strategically important after examination of the scenarios in Childers' text. Winston Churchill later gave the book the credit for persuading public opinion to fund vital measures against the German naval threat.
Contentiously described as the first modern spy thriller, vying for the title with Kipling's 'Kim', published two years earlier.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Golf: A Royal & Ancient Game -
Robert Clark (editor)
1875 - R. &, Edinburgh - First Edition
A near fine first edition of this history of golf, a rare golfing classic, in original cloth without repair or restoration. Formerly from the libraries of John Hamilton Buchanan (1861-1919) and Scottish lawyer John Kermack (1847-99), with their engraved armourial bookplates.
Illustrated with nine plates from paintings, engravings, etchings, etc., including two duotone lithographs, one colour plan of the golf course over St. Andrew's Links and frontispiece, with tissue-guards; plus numerous wood engravings and facsimiles throughout the text; title page with decorative gilt margins; decorative initials. Illustrations by Clark Stanton, C.A. Doyle and G. Aikman.
‘This book is one of the masterpieces of golf literature. It is also one of the most important contributions to the library of golf and one of the most handsomely produced of all golf books, even to this date.’ – Joseph Murdoch, ‘The Library of Golf 1743-1966’.
‘Widely regarded as one of the most significant, as well as best produced, early books on the history of golf, Clark's work is a compilation of the earliest literature on the game. In assembling the book, Clark, a well-known Edinburgh printer, collected early press reports, biographical sketches, significant acts of Parliament, municipal records, diaries, and extracts from the minutes of the earliest golf clubs. The book also contains obituary of Allan Robertson.’
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Price HK$ 18,000
1875 - R. &, Edinburgh - First Edition
A near fine first edition of this history of golf, a rare golfing classic, in original cloth without repair or restoration. Formerly from the libraries of John Hamilton Buchanan (1861-1919) and Scottish lawyer John Kermack (1847-99), with their engraved armourial bookplates.Illustrated with nine plates from paintings, engravings, etchings, etc., including two duotone lithographs, one colour plan of the golf course over St. Andrew's Links and frontispiece, with tissue-guards; plus numerous wood engravings and facsimiles throughout the text; title page with decorative gilt margins; decorative initials. Illustrations by Clark Stanton, C.A. Doyle and G. Aikman.
‘This book is one of the masterpieces of golf literature. It is also one of the most important contributions to the library of golf and one of the most handsomely produced of all golf books, even to this date.’ – Joseph Murdoch, ‘The Library of Golf 1743-1966’.
‘Widely regarded as one of the most significant, as well as best produced, early books on the history of golf, Clark's work is a compilation of the earliest literature on the game. In assembling the book, Clark, a well-known Edinburgh printer, collected early press reports, biographical sketches, significant acts of Parliament, municipal records, diaries, and extracts from the minutes of the earliest golf clubs. The book also contains obituary of Allan Robertson.’
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Price HK$ 18,000