Tom Morris of St Andrews: The Colossus of Golf 1821-1908

Tom Morris of St Andrews "The Colossus of Golf 1821-1908", by David Malcolm and Peter E. Crabtree. Rhod McEwan at Glengarden Press, Ballater, Royal Deeside, Scotland, 2008. 

Limited Edition. Full Leather. Unnumbered and Unsigned Copy (with slightly different title page containing no limitation or edition points, as pictured) and no pocket to rear endpaper with facsimiles. This copy was a gift to the wonderfully-talented Mr John Riches who dressed and supplied leather to The Fine Book Bindery in Irthlingborough for this particular edition. Hors de Commerce copy.

Small folio, 384pp. The book is fully bound in Bagaruwa and Summach Tanned Nigerian goatskin leather supplied by Harmatan and Oakridge Leathers. Beautifully hot-tooled to spine (only permissible because of the pure aniline finish and hand-polished feature of the leather), with five raised bands between gilt rules, two cherry-red labels with gilt lettering, and additional gilt lettering to foot of spine. Intricate gilt tooling to front and rear turn-ins. Illustrated endpapers. Illustrated throughout by colour images of art, photographs, maps, etc.

Out of a total limitation of 500, only 87 copies were bound in full leather with a leather slipcase (one printed for every year of Old Tom's life), as well as a small handful of copies Hors de Commerce which were reserved for contributors to the project (and did not feature signatures or pocket to rear endpapers). The rest were bound in half-leather with cloth sides and a cloth slipcase. This is an unnumbered copy that is not signed, and is the copy that belonged to Mr John Riches who dressed and supplied leather to The Fine Book Bindery in Irthlingborough for this particular edition.

This is a near-fine copy with just a small spot or two of wear to boards. In like slipcase that has a little mark to one panel, as pictured; else fine.

Best book yet, U.S.G.A's book of the year, and by many golf enthusiasts best book of the century! Old Tom Morris' life and times, a story no one can get tired of. Very rare chance to own the most desired edition, albeit without a limitation statement, unsigned by the authors and unnumbered. A beautifully executed work on Old Tom Morris, containing many color reproductions of art throughout history depicting the famous golfer. Incredibly scarce.