The Traveller's Guide Through Scotland, and its Islands: illustrated by maps, views of remarkable buildings, &c. [1818] [Early References to Golf] [Illustrated with Maps & Plates]

Robertson,Joseph of Edinburgh [Presumed Compiler and Editor]

Edité par Printed by J. Pillans & Son, for John Thomson and Company ., and R. Baldwin, London, Edinburgh, 1818

A propos de cet article

A FOUNDATIONAL WORK OF EARLY 19TH-CENTURY TRAVEL LITERATURE, DISTINGUISHED SOME OF THE EARLIEST GUIDEBOOK REFERENCES TO THE GAME OF GOLF. Published during the height of the Romantic movement and the rise of Scottish tourism-fueled by the literary atmospheric of Sir Walter Scott-this comprehensive guide served as the definitive companion for the scenic explorer. Beyond its practical routes and architectural inventories, the 1818 edition is a significant primary source for sports historians. It codifies golf as a characteristic Scottish pursuit, specifically identifying the links of St. Andrews and the golfing grounds of Musselburgh decades before the game achieved global commercialization. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES +++ Visuals: Exceptionally well-illustrated. Volume I: Large folding frontispiece map of Scotland, 11 in-text maps [some folding], and 2 copper-plate illustrations. Volume II: Large folding frontispiece of Loch Catherine and Loch Lomond plus 9 additional maps. +++ Cartography: Features engravings by notable hands including Thomas Clerk, Kirkwood, and N.R. Hewitt. +++ Binding: Contemporary half-calf and marbled boards; spines ruled in gilt with morocco labels; all edges marbled. +++ Specs: 7.5 inches tall. Vol I: 300 pp; Vol II: 295 pp. +++ The Golf Points: Specific early mentions of the game located in Vol I [pages 34, 83, 99, 108, 115] and Vol II [page 55]. CONDITION: Very Good. The bindings are tight and square with moderate shelf handling. Light scuffing and rubbing to the leather and boards of both volumes. The text is clean with light, even age-toning. Both large frontispiece maps show professional repairs and some foxing; intermittent foxing present to text leaves and plates. A very handsome, unsophisticated set in a sturdy contemporary binding. SCHOLARLY FEATURES +++ Genesis of Golf History: Confirms that by 1818, golf was sufficiently established as a national trait to merit inclusion in a general traveller's handbook. These citations pre-date the specialized golf-guide genre. +++ Romantic Tourism: Reflects the evolving infrastructure of Scotland as it transitioned from a rugged frontier to a Picturesque destination for the British elite. +++ Infrastructure Snapshot: Provides detailed social and geographical data on Scottish towns and villages during the Regency era, documenting a country on the cusp of the industrial age. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- This set represents more than a mere directory; it is a cultural census of Scotland during its Romantic re-awakening. While the maps and architectural plates satisfied the 19th-century traveller's eye, the text's casual inclusion of golf at St. Andrews serves as a critical point of origin for the literature of the sport. It documents the transition of the game from a local pastime on common land to a recognized attraction for the international traveller. Subjects: Scottish Geography, Early Golf History, St. Andrews, Musselburgh, British Cartography, Regency Era Travel, Thomas Clerk Engravings, Travel Guides, Illustrated Books, Sports History, 19th-Century Cartography. Reference: Donovan & Murdoch (1988): #33040.

N° de réf. du vendeur 20308

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: The Traveller's Guide Through Scotland, and its Islands: illustrated by maps, views of remarkable buildings, &c. [1818] [Early References to Golf] [Illustrated with Maps & Plates]
• Éditeur: Printed by J. Pillans & Son, for John Thomson and Company ., and R. Baldwin, London, Edinburgh
• Date de parution: 1818
• Édition: Seventh Edition.
• État de l'article: Very Good
• État de la jaquette: No Dust Jacket, As Issued
• Poids: 3 livres
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • TRAVEL, EXPLORATION & GEOGRAPHY
  • HISTORY