TENNIS, YACHTING, POLO, FISHING, GOLF: THE FIRST MODERN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SPORTS AND PASTIMES, THE BADMINTON LIBRARY, LARGE COLLECTION OF 17 TITLES, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND, 1885-96

BEAUFORT, (Henry Somerset), Duke of, and WATSON, A.E.T., ed. The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. London: Longmans, Green, 1885-96. Twenty volumes. Large octavo, 20th-century half morocco, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, top edges gilt, uncut. $6800.

A superb 19th-century sporting library: a large collection of 17 titles, each one of only 250 large-paper copies, including the most desirable of the series: Tennis, Mountaineering, Fishing, Polo, Rackets, etc.

Henry Somerset, eighth Duke of Beaufort, conceived of the "Badminton Library" (named after his principal country house, after which the game is also named) as a comprehensive series of instructional guidebooks, presenting history, rules and strategic hints for pastimes popular among Victorian England's aristocracy. Each chapter boasts expert commentary, accompanied by copious pictures and drawings. Published between 1885 and 1920, "the books provide a rich source of information on the growth and development of sport during the late 19th century in Britain, and are highly sought after by collectors" (Nauright & Parrish, Sports Around the World, 33). The series was issued separately and ultimately extended to 28 separate titles. This collection includes the following volumes: Hunting; Fishing (two volumes); Racing & Steeple-Chasing; Athletics & Football; Boating; Cricket; Fencing, Boxing & Wrestling; Golf; Tennis, Lawn Tennis, Rackets & Fives; Riding & Polo; Skating & Figure-Skating; Swimming; Big Game Shooting (two volumes); Yachting (two volumes); Sea Fishing; Billiards; and the Poetry of Sport, intended as the last volume in the series (although followed by five volumes at later dates). Each volume in this collection is a large paper copy of the first edition, issued in only 250 numbered copies for each title—the Badminton Library was also issued in trade and deluxe editions, neither of which was limited. Evidence of removal of bookplates.

Occasional mild foxing in a few volumes, a few spines evenly toned to brown. A beautiful set, rarely found with such a large number of the original titles.