Beschreibung:

an extensive collection of European Automobile Racing images, ca. 1921-1939, amassed by the racer, T.A.S.O. Mathieson, consisting of approximately 2,100 positive monochrome photographic prints, laid down on the front and back of each page, mostly 6.5" x 8.5", housed in 24 cloth-bound albums, 8" x 10". The first twenty albums contain materials illustrating the decade of the 1920s, and the final four, the 1930s. The photographs depict both open road and closed track competition in the era styled The Golden Age of Racing. Races on the Continent and in Britain are included in this collection. In addition, all major automobile marques and notable drivers of the period are represented. Most of the prints are accompanied by handwritten captions indicating the date, the specific race and location, and often the names of the drivers pictured in the images. The collection is also accompanied by a detailed, typed list identifying the photographs included in each album. Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvie Mathieson (1908-1991), born in Glasgow, he took up automobile racing in Britain in 1931. During a sporadic career, interrupted first by family demands and health issues, and later by army service in World War II, Mathieson achieved some success as a driver. With Bugattis, he celebrated a handful of victories between 1932 and 1933. Following the war, he became the first Briton to race again on the Continent. In 1950, Mathieson won at Le Mans with Dickie Stoop, driving a 2-litre Le Mans Frazer Nash. He experienced continued success as a driver until 1953 when he was part of a disastrous crash at the Grand Prix that forced him into retirement. Upon his wife's suggestion, Mathieson used his free time to organize and identify the collection of racing photographs he had accumulated over the years. He also began actively collecting photographs from years before he started racing competitively. Mathieson arranged the albums chronologically by year, and then by event in the racing season. Most of the photographs included in the albums were taken by Meurisse and other race photographers working for the British auto magazines of the day. In addition to collecting, Mathieson wrote a number of books about racing. He retired from business in 1975 and also stopped collecting racing photographs at this time. A remarkable collection of images that will appeal to European Automobile Racing and photography fans alike. Condition: Some images that were tipped in have become unglued; scattered soiling to images.