Beschreibung:

Title: The Golfer's Manual: Being an Historical and Descriptive Account of the National Game of Scotland: with an Appendix Author: [Farnie, Henry Brougham] A Keen Hand Place: Cupar, Scotland Publisher: John C. Orr Date: 1862 Description: xii, [2], 96 pp. Frontispiece lithograph portrait of Allan Robertson (from a photo), with Robertson's facsimile autograph. 5¾x4, bound in late nineteenth century half red sheep and marbled boards, gilt-lettered morocco spine label, spine tooled in gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers and page edges. Second Edition. “A book of considerable importance in that it was the first book of prose written on golf and generally recognized as the first book of golf instruction. Farnie was a journalist…[who was] educated at St. Andrews, where he…became acquainted with golf and became a ‘keen hand’ at it. Both…[the] second and third [editions] are considerably rarer than the first and were published with nothing more than fresh title sheets bound with the first edition folios…It is of interest to point out that Farnie listed the links then in use in Scotland. There were, in his list, 15 links (courses) and 18 clubs, although he noted that some clubs had not answered his request for information…interesting and historically valuable volume of golfing literature” – Joe Murdoch. No copies of the second edition located at auction for the past twenty-five years; this is the first second edition copy that has ever been offered at PBA. Donovan & Murdoch 1141; Murdoch 415. Previous owner’s signature (signed twice – one on frontispiece verso), dated 1886, and appears to be from a Mr. Brown. Lot Amendments Condition: Rubbing and light edge wear; front hinge cracked, occasional foxing; else very good. The rare second edition (scarcer than the first according to Murdoch). Item number: 170078