"ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT BOOKS IN THE ENTIRE LIBRARY OF GOLF": LIMITED FIRST EDITION OF THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GAME OF GOLF, 1912

HILTON, Harold H. and SMITH, Garden G., eds. The Royal & Ancient Game of Golf. London: London and Counties Press Association Ltd., 1912. Tall quarto (10 by 12-1/2 inches), original full scarlet morocco gilt, watered silk endpapers, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom slipcase and clamshell box. $4500.

Limited first edition, number 190 of 900 copies, of Hilton and Smith's tribute to the legendary history and traditions of golf, with color frontispiece and six plates (two in color), along with numerous in-text black-and-white illustrations, including many photographic portraits of famous golfers and courses, in publisher's original gilt-stamped morocco.

Hilton and Smith's impressive volume "is one of the most magnificent books in the entire library of golf, comprehensive in content, very handsome in appearance and attractively illustrated" (Murdoch 348). Royal and Ancient Game of Golf traces the sport from its Scottish origins to its embrace worldwide, depicting many famous greens from St. Andrews to the links of Lombardtzyde and such leading contemporary golfers as John Ball, Harry Vardon, James Braid and Walter Travis, as well as noted golfing authors H.G. Hutchinson and Bernard Darwin. With extensive list of subscribers; front cover with gilt-stamped vignette of a lion above the gilt-lettered banner, "Far & Sure." Issued along with a limited deluxe edition of 100 copies bound in vellum. Donovan & Murdoch 21090.

Interior quite clean and fine, mild soiling and edge-wear to publisher's morocco, gilt bright. A near-fine copy.