xxi, 284 pp. + plates. Illustrated with 20 total plates (11 are extra and are inserted for this edition) from portraits, photos, paintings, engravings, etchings, etc., including frontispiece with tissue-guard, 2 duotone lithographs, 1 color plan of the golf course over St. Andrew's Links, 1 plate titled "Cock of the Green" from an 1803 etching, and 1 plate from the painting "Golf at North Berwick"; plus numerous wood engravings and facsimiles throughout the text; title page with decorative gilt margins; decorative initials. 27.4x21 cm. (10¾x8¼"), re-backed red morocco, with period gilt decorated and lettered red morocco covers and spine laid down, all edges gilt, modern marbled endpapers. No. 36 of 50 copies. "Large Paper Copy". First Edition.
With bookplate of Sam Sharp on front pastedown, and Rhod McEwen bookseller's label on front pastedown. This "Large Paper Copy" edition varies from the "Presentation Edition" published in London, in that it does not contain the tipped-in photographic portrait plate of Robert Clark that was signed by him and by John Murray, Jr. This copy contains the obituary of Young Tom Morris (pp. 281-284 and not found in the regular trade edition), who died on Christmas day, 1875 and was published in early 1876, despite the 1875 imprint on the title page (obituary with printed date of January, 1876 at end). Clark was an Edinburgh printer and an avid golfer, and this compilation of important golf writings up to the 1870's includes poems (including Mathison's "The Goff" and Carnegie's "Golfiana"), newspaper and magazine accounts, old club Minute Books, diary extracts, municipal records and Acts of Parliament, etc. Murdoch opines that "This book is one of the masterpieces of golf literature. It is also one of the most important contributions to the library of golf and one of the most handsomely produced of all golf books, even to this date (1966)." The eleven additional plates were not included in the regular trade edition. The title page/limitation page is inserted, as issued. Murdoch 128; D&M 880; D&J C12700.
Condition:
Several spots of wear and some faint soiling or darkening to period morocco covers and spine, rectangular spot (name once in gilt?) excised from period morocco front and rear cover, replaced with later morocco; light marginal foxing and finger soiling scattered within, a few leaves (title and a few very late leaves) with a tiny tear at edge, one repaired with tape; very good copy of this important book.