PBA Galleries

[2], 51, [1] typed leaves. 33x20.5 cm (13x8") original stiff brown covers, string bound.

Inscribed on the title page by R.M. McClaren, Recorder of The Honourable Club of Edinburgh Golfers, and with pencil notes on the verso of several leaves in the same hand. McClaren's criticism of this paper is mentioned in Alastair Johnston's compilation of Clapcott's papers, published in 1985 where he notes "this is the only one of Clapcott's commentaries where I have evidence that his research was constructively criticised by any of his contemporaries. In 1946...R.M. McLaren critically reviewed the text. His comments and conclusions, whilst differing from Clapcott's on several occasions, were not so inconsistent that they would warrant a total reappraisal of Clapcott's interpretations." Of the paper itself Johnston offers: "It is difficult , in all candour, to commend this paper as containing any conclusions of general historic importance. Nor does it reveal any facts of circumstance which are not reviewed more constructively in his other commentaries... In general, this was an untidy and confusing study. Clapcott departed from his practice expounded in previous papers of outlining his objectives, stating the facts, providing interpretations, and summarising his conclusions in some logical fashion."  Exceeding rare, as are all of Clapcott's writings, which until 1985, were known in only these rare self-produced typescripts. No copies of this appear in auction records.