The Architectural Side of Golf by Wethered & Simpson. Scarce 1929 limited 1st "Large Paper" edition of only 50 copies. Signed by both authors, unnumbered. 211p.
This is widely regarded as the most important book on golf architecture in history. It has been described as golf architecture's "grandest literary gem."
Classic book of golf architecture with superb essays on the philosophy of golf architecture, ink sketches and color washes. According to celebrated book collector and author Joseph Murdoch, it is "the most desirable book to have in all the golf library.” The ultimate limited edition and the bonus it is a golf architecture book at its best.
All original orange vellum + plates. Preface by J.C. Squire. Illustrated by the authors: 43 numbered plates, mostly course plans (22 of which are in colour); plus other illustrations including engraved frontispiece with tissue-guard, wood engravings and drawings within text, head and tail-pieces. 10¼x7¾, original gilt-ruled orange full vellum, spine lettered in gilt, some pages unopened, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. One of 50 "Large Paper" copies specially bound in full orange vellum; this copy unnumbered of only 50. First Edition. Likely only one previous owner. Note this was an exhibition copy, and has been kept in exhibition condition ever since. We believe this book has been kept by a single family and never handled until it is now on the market.
Rear inside board has a label attached explaining, this very copy was used in a National exhibition of The Royal Academy Exhibition of British Art in Industry. Based in central London, the Royal Academy is the largest most respected organisation responsible for showing the best of British, in the 1920s and 30s to be of Royal Academy worthy standard shows there is likely nothing better anywhere in the world.