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THE BOOK OF SPORT [two volumes, edited by William Patten]

J.F. Taylor: (NY), 1901. Hardcover. Good. Item #22-9863

2 volumes [Ruth Underhill]. Signed bindings by H. Jackel & Co., NY. Aquarelle Edition, extra illustrated, two hand-colored frontis' by Henry Hutt, 14 x 11", full black Morocco, TEG, highly gilt dec: thistles with blue flowers on covers and spines, butterfly with red and white wings on spine panels, decorations on spine and inner dentelles, gilt lettering, each front inside cover has a color illus. on leather: hunting (vol. 1) and a sailboat (vol. 2) inside each rear cover is an armorial letter "H" in green leather on a red leather background, red silk FEPs followed by two green marbled boards, two original color frontis by J. Varrier in each: automobile ride (vol. 1) and coach ride (vol. 2), 14 x 11", xviii-(328), 329-672, plates are part of the pagination. Covers/spine rubbed, edgeworn with light scratches, each spine is missing a piece. Volume 1 front hinge cracked, rear cover detached, scattered small spots to front cover, horizontal tear to page 49/50, light waterstaining on margins of last few pp. Volume 2 covers detached, one torn tissue guard, edge tear pp 667/668. Textblocks tight. Very good to fine condition. From the table of contents: "Automobiles And Automobiling", "Steam-Yachting", "Riding In Detroit", "Fox-Hunting In Toronto". The set (originally published in one volume in 1901) belonged to William Hendrie, 1831-1906, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada who was involved in the railroad industry in Hamilton and Detroit, Michigan and eventually becoming the president, vice president or director of various railways for both countries including the Detroit, Marquette and Mackinac Railway. He was also a well-known horse breeder, having up to as many as 300 horses at his Valley Farm outside of Hamilton and was one of the founders of the Ontario Jockey Club. There are bookplates of his second wife, Mary Murray Hendrie who has left occasional notes (some on loose strips of paper) indicated where family and friends can be bound in the volumes. There's also a pale purple ribbon with the note "On Bouquet Sept. 1904 Race Meeting Woodbine". People mentioned/shown include W.K. Vanderbilt, John Jacob Astor, Harry Payne Whitney, J. Pierpont Morgan, William Hendrie Sr. & Jr., Potter Palmer, Louis F. Swift plus many of the leading sportswomen and men of their time. Of particular interest is the first chapter "Golf: The Women" written by 1899 female amateur golf champion Ruther Underhill with a note by Beatrix Hoyt the female amateur golf champion 1896-1898. A fantastic history of women's golf which includes their championship records for 1895-1900. Underhill writes "It is greatly to be hoped that by…the men, in spirit of favor for the women…While, of course, it cannot be asked that the men shall subject themselves to being bothered on their holidays by women beginners, it would none the less be ungracious and generally hurtful of the game if women of keen interest and enough proficiency…should be shut out, as many propose. The men, by sharing their courses with us from the first…have shown that it is not as women that they object to us on the links, but merely as the cause of delay and interruption". A stunningly beautiful set whose hinges need some repair. FIRST EDITION. TWENTY-SIX COPIES OF THE AQUARELLE EDITION OF THE BOOK OF SPORT HAVE BEEN EXTRA ILLUSTRATED AND EXTENDED TO TWO VOLUMES. THIS IS COPY H. PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR WILLIAM HENDRIE, ESQ." Extra postage required. SWAF.

Price: $2,500.00