Highly illustrated
This 1916 edition of British Sports and Sportsmen: Yachting and Rowing is a beautifully crafted volume that offers a rare glimpse into the world of elite British sport during the Edwardian era. Lavishly bound in full red Morocco leather with ornate gilt borders, raised bands, and marbled endpapers with gilt dentelle detailing, it was designed as both a reference and a showpiece. The book opens with a portrait of King Edward VII, a devoted yachtsman and member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, setting the tone for the aristocratic sporting traditions covered throughout.
Inside, the volume features dozens of rich photogravure plates—far superior to standard printing of the time—showing elegant racing yachts, regattas, and rowing events. You'll also find full-page portraits and biographical sketches of the men who defined the sport during this period: admirals, members of parliament, lords, and other figures from Britain’s upper class. This wasn’t just a book about sport—it was also a subtle social register, capturing a moment when leisure, competition, and status were deeply connected.
Compiled and edited by “The Sportsman,” the text offers insight into the culture of yachting and rowing, from clubs and rules to events like the Henley Royal Regatta. As part of the British Sports and Sportsmen series, this volume was published in a limited run for a select audience. These books were privately printed on high-quality paper and bound by hand—far from mass-produced, and increasingly scarce today.
First and only edition, published in 1916 as part of a privately printed, limited-run series. No subsequent reprints were issued.
Condition:
The condition is very good, with minor rubbing to the leather and some foxing to tissue guards—common and expected in books of this age. The binding remains tight and the pages clean and bright.
