Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

AUTHOR'S COPY, corrected. - Charles Gilbert HEATHCOTE (1841-1913) and others.

[Badminton Library] Tennis ... Lawn Tennis ... Rackets .... Fives ..... Second Edition

Museum quality: Charles Heathcote's copy, with his manuscript corrections.

Published: Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 1891

Edition: Second

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Charles Gilbert HEATHCOTE (1841-1913), John Moyer HEATHCOTE and others.

[Badminton Llibrary] Tennis by J.M. Heathcote ... Lawn Tennis by C.G. Heathcote... Rackets by E.O. P.-Bouverie. Fives by A.C. Ainger ..... Second Edition. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1891. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1891. Octavo (7 3/8 x 5 1/8in; 187 x 130mm). Pp. [i-ii, i-]vi-xiv; [1-]484. Frontispiece and 11 plates, numerous illustrations, many of the leaves unopened in the Tennis, Fives and Rackets sections. Extra-illustrated with 2pp. of manuscript revisions (?by C.G. Heathcote), to be used in the stead of the existing text on p.449, together with two relevant press reviews of earlier editions loosely inserted. There are many minor alterations, almost exclusively to the 'Lawn Tennis' section, but there are also a number of more substantial changes (see pages 181, 182, 183, 184, 328, 329, 338, 339, 340, 437-445, and 449). 

Condition of contents: spotted, a working copy with various leaves detached and some small tears, pp.341-342 supplied from another copy.

Original decorated cloth, patterned endpapers. Condition of binding: rubbed, inner hinges splitting.

Provenance: Charles Gilbert Heathcote (manuscript corrections, by descent); Walter John Heathcote (1870-1936, Kilmeston Manor, Hampshire, armorial bookplate).

A fascinating 'incunable' of tennis. From the library of one of the founders of the modern game, with his corrections, including substantial alterations to an aspect of the game which no longer exists: the calculating of 'Odds' which was a form of handicapping.

C.G. Heathcote 'was an English barrister and tennis player. He was one of the founders of the All England Club, and played in the first Wimbledon Championships in 1877

Heathcote was born at Conington Castle, Conington, Huntingdonshire, the third son of John Heathcote of Conington Castle Huntingdon and his third wife Emily Colbourne. He was educated at Eton College and was admitted at Trinity College, Cambridge, on 6 April 1859. He was a scholar and migrated to Emmanuel College, Cambridge on 20 June 1863, being awarded an MA in 1866. He was admitted at Inner Temple on 26 January 1865 and was called to the bar on 18 November 1867. He served on the South Eastern Circuit.

Heathcote was one of the founders of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. He is cited as one of the committee that formulated the rules of tennis in 1877 before the first Wimbledon Championships although according to other sources the Heathcote concerned was his brother John Moyer Heathcote who was a representative of the MCC committee. In the inaugural 1877 Wimbledon Championship he reached the semi-final of the Men's singles when he was defeated by Spencer Gore and lost to William Marshall in the 3rd place play-off. He played again in 1878 and reached the quarter-finals in 1879. He last entered in 1880. Heathcote was also a member of the Alpine Club and an amateur artist.

From 1884 to 1902, Heathcote was a Stipendiary Magistrate for Brighton. He acquired Kilmeston Manor, Alresford, Hampshire in 1902 and became a J.P. for Hampshire in 1906. ' (wikipedia)

  • Binding Condition: Acceptable
  • Overall Condition: Acceptable
  • Size: 7 3/8 x 5 1/8in; 187 x 130mm
  • Sold By: Shadowrock Rare Books
  • Contact Person: Adam Langlands
  • Country: United States
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: 001-860-248-1547
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Paypal, US$ checks and wire transfers, major credit cards through paypal
  • Trade Associations: AA Approved


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