"ONE OF THE FINE BOOKS IN THE GOLF LIBRARY": GOLF COURSES OF THE BRITISH ISLES, WITH LOVELY COLOR PLATES

DARWIN, Bernard. The Golf Courses of the British Isles. London: Duckworth, (1910). Tall, thick octavo, original green cloth, top edge gilt, uncut and partly unopened. $3200.

First edition of this golf classic, with 64 fine plates (48 in color) after original watercolors by Harry Rountree depicting renowned Scottish, English and Irish courses.

Bernard Darwin, grandson of Charles Darwin and for almost 50 years the golf correspondent for The Times, is one of the most highly regarded golf writers of all times. "Thanks to Bernard, golf has acquired the sturdiest literature of any game. The best is Darwin's… because he showed the writers who came after him how golf should be written" (H.W. Wind). "The illustrations, from original water colors, help to make this one of the fine books in the golf library, setting a high standard of excellence that Mr. Darwin would never fail to meet in his later books" (Murdoch 181). In first issue binding, with illustrator's name misspelled as "Rowntree" on the front board. Without rarely found dust jacket. Donovan & Murdoch 14410. With perforated "Presentation Copy" on the title page. Publisher's slip laid in.

Plates and text fine, text block slightly cocked; very minor wear to cloth, gilt bright. A nearly fine copy.