Item #2519 Curling and Curling Reminiscences. George Macnoe.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.
Curling and Curling Reminiscences.

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Curling and Curling Reminiscences.

Buffalo, [1886]. 4to, pebbled brown morocco, gilt title and author’s name at spine, raised bands, both covers with blind-stamped ornamental border, a.e.g. 231 typed pp. in purple ink, 19 mounted portrait photographs, 2 mounted portrait engravings, 1 full-page illus., 20 vignette illus. in purple ink. [with] A Scrap-book of Newspaper Clippings. 4to, brown cloth and green paper over boards. [with] A Pair of Presentation Curling Handles.

A rare and fascinating group of items relating to the sport of curling, including one of two copies of an unpublished typescript history of the sport by George Macnoe (1834–1897).

Originally from Dumfries, Scotland, Macnoe immigrated circa 1854 to Dundas, Ontario, where he apprenticed in the newspaper trade. He published a newspaper in Dundas before moving to Buffalo, New York, and worked for the B & E Railroad before becoming a Superior Court stenographer there. He was from early on a big booster of Scottish culture and organized the first Buffalo Curling Club as well as the Grand National Curling Club of America, serving as its first secretary. A gregarious soul, he made friends across the border and in 1865 organized the first International Match between the US and Canada, which Canada handily won 659 to 478.

This handsomely bound typescript contains a complete account of the match, including names and scores, mounted photographic portraits of prominent curlers, and many great anecdotes about curling, feasting and drinking. It begins with a history of curling from the earliest times to its establishment in Montreal in 1807, and the organization of the inaugural clubs in Niagara, Newmarket, Dundas, West Flanders, Paris, Toronto, and Fergus in the 1830’s and 1840’s. It also includes numerous curling songs and verses. The illustrations are by Macnoe himself and are mainly sketches of various curling stones, both ancient and modern, or amusing vignettes of curling scenes. The accompanying scrap-book contains many clippings of Macnoe’s pseudonymous “Tam o’ the Glen” travel writings (Scotland, Muskoka, etc.), as well as coverage of curling matches from the 1850’s to the 1890’s. The curling stone handles are fashioned of rosewood, nickel and sterling, and are surprisingly beautiful and evocative objects. The engraved inscription is identical on both, reading “To George Macnoe from the Curlers of New York. To commemorate the International Match held at Buffalo January 5th 1865.” Also appearing on both is an engraved fraternal emblem of two clasping hands with an inscription below reading “we’re brithers a’ ”.

A [Buffalo?] Sunday News clipping in the scrap book dated October 21, 1886 describes this unpublished book and notes that only two copies “are extant.” Not in OCLC, and almost certainly one of only two copies.

A highly unusual and delightful group of items relating to curling.

CONDITION: Very good, moderately rubbed; scrap-book fair, spine perished; curling handles in very good condition.

Item #2519

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