Almanac Of Twelve Sports, By W. Nicholson
Almanac Of Twelve Sports, By W. Nicholson
Nicholson's Twelve Sports 1st edition, Words By Rudyard Kipling.
Rare 1st Edition (1897) - An Almanac of Twelve Sports by William Nicholson, with verses by Rudyard Kipling, published by William Heinemann, London, November 1897. This antique hardbound volume is a true collector's item from the Victorian era, featuring a calendar for 1898 and twelve full-page colour lithograph plates, each illustrating a classic English sport.
Each sport - Hunting, Coursing, Racing, Boating, Fishing, Cricket, Archery, Coaching, Shooting, Golf, Boxing, and Skating - is beautifully depicted by Nicholson's distinctive woodcut-style prints, paired with a witty and poetic verse by the celebrated author Rudyard Kipling on the facing page.
Bound in the original pictorial boards, this first edition showcases Nicholson's iconic design and typographic artistry.
January - Hunting - Certes it is a noble sport, And men have quitted selle and swum for't, But I am of a meeker sort, AndI prefer Surtees in Cofort. Reach down my "Handley Cross" again. My run, where never danger lurks, is With Jorrocks and his deathless train - Pigg, Binjimin and Arterxerxes!
February - Coursing - Most men harry the world for fun - Each man seeks it a different way, But "of all daft devils under the sun, A grey 'ound's the daftest" said Jorrocks J.
March - Racing - The horse is ridden - the jockey rides - The backers back - the owners own, But ... there are lots of things besides, And I should leave this play alone.
April - Boating - The Pope of Rome he could not win, from pleasant meat and pleasant sin, These who, in honour's hope, endure, Lean days and lives enforced pure.These who, replying not, submit, Unto the cursesof the Pit, Which he that rides (O greater shame!), Flings forth by number not by name ... Could Triple Crown or Jesuit's oath, Do what yon shuffle - stocking doth!
May - Fishing - Behold a parable! A fished for B. C took her bait; her heart was set on D. Thank Heaven, who cooled your blood and cramped your wishes, Men and not Gods torment you, little fishes.
June - Cricket - Thank Godwho made the Britiish Isles, And taught me how to play, I do not worship crocodiles, Or bow the knee to clay! Give me willow wand and I, With hide and cork and twine, From century to century, Will gambol round my Shrine.
July - Archery - The child of the Nineties considers with laughter, The maid whom his Sire in the Sixties ran after, While careering himself in pursuit of a girl whom, The twenties will dub a "last century heir - loom".
August - Coaching - The pious Horse to church may trot. A maid may work a man's salvation. Four horses and a girl are not, However, aids to reformation.
September - Shooting - "Peace upon Earth, Goodwill to men!". So greet we Christmas Day. Oh Christian load your gunand then, O Christian, out and slay!
October - Golf - Why Golf is Art and Art is Golf we have not far to seek - So much depends upon the lie, so much upon the cleek.
November - Boxing - Read here the Moral roundly writ, For him that into battle goes - Each soul that, hitting hard and hit, Encounters gross or ghostly foes:- Prince, blown by many overthrows, Half blind with shame, half choked with dirt, Man cannot tell but Allah knows, How much the other side was hurt!
December - Skating - Over the ice she flies, Perfect and poised and fair - Stars in my true - love's eyes, Teach me to do and to dare! Now will I fly as she flies ... Woe for the stars that misled! Stars that I saw in her eyes, Now do I see in my head!
As stated at the back of this book, a companion to this Almanac, AN ALPHABET, by William Nicholson was also available.
The book has been professionally covered in a protective sleeve.
Dimensions:
1850-1899
1897
Paper
United Kingdom
Good condition, spine a little loose, Light staining to the very edges of the pages, also the dark black ink used in the book has discoloured the pages.
RELATED ITEMS
 - An Almanac of Twelve Sports by William Nicholson, with verses by Rudyard Kipling, published by William Heinemann, London, November 1897. This antique hardbound volume is a true collector's item from the Victorian era, featuring a calendar for 1898 and twelve full-page colour lithograph plates, each illustrating a classic English sport.Each sport - Hunting, Coursing, Racing, Boating, Fishing, Cricket, Archery, Coaching, Shooting, Golf, Boxing, and Skating - is beautifully depicted by Nicholson's distinctive woodcut-style prints, paired with a witty and poetic verse by the celebrated author Rudyard Kipling on the facing page.Bound in the original pictorial boards, this first edition showcases Nicholson's iconic design and typographic artistry.January - Hunting - Certes it is a noble sport, And men have quitted selle and swum for't, But I am of a meeker sort, AndI prefer Surtees in Cofort. Reach down my "Handley Cross" again. My run, where never danger lurks, is With Jorrocks and his deathless train - Pigg, Binjimin and Arterxerxes!February - Coursing - Most men harry the world for fun - Each man seeks it a different way, But "of all daft devils under the sun, A grey 'ound's the daftest" said Jorrocks J.March - Racing - The horse is ridden - the jockey rides - The backers back - the owners own, But ... there are lots of things besides, And I should leave this play alone.April - Boating - The Pope of Rome he could not win, from pleasant meat and pleasant sin, These who, in honour's hope, endure, Lean days and lives enforced pure.These who, replying not, submit, Unto the cursesof the Pit, Which he that rides (O greater shame!), Flings forth by number not by name ... Could Triple Crown or Jesuit's oath, Do what yon shuffle - stocking doth!May - Fishing - Behold a parable! A fished for B. C took her bait; her heart was set on D. Thank Heaven, who cooled your blood and cramped your wishes, Men and not Gods torment you, little fishes.June - Cricket - Thank Godwho made the Britiish Isles, And taught me how to play, I do not worship crocodiles, Or bow the knee to clay! Give me willow wand and I, With hide and cork and twine, From century to century, Will gambol round my Shrine.July - Archery - The child of the Nineties considers with laughter, The maid whom his Sire in the Sixties ran after, While careering himself in pursuit of a girl whom, The twenties will dub a "last century heir - loom".August - Coaching - The pious Horse to church may trot. A maid may work a man's salvation. Four horses and a girl are not, However, aids to reformation.September - Shooting - "Peace upon Earth, Goodwill to men!". So greet we Christmas Day. Oh Christian load your gunand then, O Christian, out and slay!October - Golf - Why Golf is Art and Art is Golf we have not far to seek - So much depends upon the lie, so much upon the cleek.November - Boxing - Read here the Moral roundly writ, For him that into battle goes - Each soul that, hitting hard and hit, Encounters gross or ghostly foes:- Prince, blown by many overthrows, Half blind with shame, half choked with dirt, Man cannot tell but Allah knows, How much the other side was hurt!December - Skating - Over the ice she flies, Perfect and poised and fair - Stars in my true - love's eyes, Teach me to do and to dare! Now will I fly as she flies ... Woe for the stars that misled! Stars that I saw in her eyes, Now do I see in my head!As stated at the back of this book, a companion to this Almanac, AN ALPHABET, by William Nicholson was also available.The book has been professionally covered in a protective sleeve.){kind=link}