The Golfer's Handbook.
Edinburgh, Scotland: John Menzies & Co., 1884. 63p. Frontispiece drawing, and others within. 18x12.2 cm. (7¼x4¾") cloth-backed pictorial boards. Fourth Edition. The first golf book to be successful in sales. Forgan founded a famous club-making firm in St Andrews and his old shop is still open as a museum for visitors. Murdoch states: "This book, somewhat like [Farnie's] The Golfer's Manual (1857) in style but considerably more comprehensive in content, includes instruction, history, outstanding golf feats and other golfiana, such as a reprint of a magazine article by Horace G. Hutchinson and a ballad by Andrew Lang. It also includes 'Rules', the local rules for the Old Course at St. Andrews, a 'Glossary of Technical Terms' and a list of 'Clubs in Great Britain,' which included, at this early date, six in Ireland."
First published in 1881 by John Innes, Cupar, Scotland, the book went into numerous re-printings, and by 1897 the title had changed to The Golfer's Manual and contained photographic illustrations. Item #12145
Murdoch 260; D&J F11770.
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