PERRY ITEMS; SIGNED TENNIS & SQUASH TITLES;
BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS

I wish all clients and contacts a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2001, hopefully with lots of thrilling tennis matches to watch. My huge stock includes many rare collectors' titles up to the most modern. Enjoy tennis books of all eras! Click here for previous newsletters.

FAREWELL HAROLD WILFRED "BUNNY" AUSTIN: born 26 Aug 1906, died 26 Aug 2000. In March, I spent nearly two hours with Bunny over coffee and biscuits. He told me that during Wimbledon, it was not unusual for him to be visited by quite a few of the older players from abroad. He made a huge effort to attend the Champion's Parade, albeit in a wheel-chair, and received an enthusiastic welcome from the appreciative crowd. He did not recover from the effort and died peacefully a few weeks later. He featured in some amazingly competitive Davis Cup ties in the 1930's and he was the last Englishman to reach a Wimbledon singles final, losing to Don Budge in his Grand Slam year. At his funeral service in Croydon, only seven out of the two hundred people present were from the tennis world, a sad farewell to a noble gentleman of principle and a great servant of British tennis.

01: "A Mixed Double" by Austin and Konstam (his wife); 1st edition 1969; 264 pp in DW. His life story first as a tennis player and later as a promoter of Moral Rearmament. This copy is inscribed: "All good wishes" and is signed by Bunny Austin and Phyllis Konstam. £95

02: "A Mixed Double"; as 01 above in DW but unsigned. £18

03: "Lawn Tennis Made Easy" by Bunny Austin; 1st USA edition 1935; 109 pp in DW. This is his coaching book, written in about 10 days; it has lots of action shots of Austin. £75

THE HONDA CHALLENGE is at the Royal Albert Hall from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th December. I will have a huge range of marvellous tennis titles from all eras for sale and special Christmas offers. Players expected are McEnroe, Borg, Noah, Wilander, Leconte, Cash, Lloyd, Bates, Bahrami, Nastase, Amritraj and Petchey. This will be Bjorn Borg's farewell to competitive tennis. Bring your newsletter and challenge me to a discount!

04: "ATP Champions Tour Media Guide 2000-2001"; 116 pp in PB. Now available, with all the player biographies, event programmes and masses of facts and statistics. £8

05: "New Balls Please"; a new ATP Tour poster; 60cm x 40cm. Featuring Gambill, Haas, Hewitt, Kuerten, Ferrero, Lapentti, and Federer. The ATP stars of the next generation!! £5

06: "ATP and/or WTA Player Guides": 1991; 1992; 1993; 1996; 1997; 2000; each £10

07: "Balles de Match" by Yannick Noah; 1981 PB. French language autobiography. £30

08: "Boris" by Gunther Bosch; 1986. Large, German language Becker biography. £25

09: "Danke Steffi" by R Hauschild; 1999; large format German language tribute to Graf £25

10: "Dawson's International Lawn Tennis Almanac 1960" by C.M. Jones. £25

11: "Dunlop Lawn Tennis Annuals" 1950; 1951; 1952; 1954; 1955; each £20

12: "French Open (Roland Garros) Media Guides" 1994; 1995; 1996; each £10

13: "Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annual 1932"; a lovely copy in very good condition. £65

14: "Rocket to the Top" by Pat Rafter; 1st edition 1999; PB. Pat's tennis life. £20

15: "Tennis" by G Clerici; 1st edition 1976. This is a giant tennis history, superbly illustrated with many hundred's of colour, and black and white photos. Here it is reduced to only £30

16: "World of Tennis Annuals" 1971/73/77/80/82/83/84/85/86/87/91/93/94/95 £15

R.K."BOBBY" WILSON was a stalwart British Davis Cup player in the 1950's and 1960's, but his contribution seems underestimated and unappreciated by many in British tennis. He played 61 matches in 34 ties over 12 years. Only Mike Sangster comes near with 65 matches but in only 26 ties. Bobby's record was Singles: won 16 lost 12, and Doubles: won 25 lost 8. He excelled at doubles, but found the singles matches a burden. He won Junior Wimbledon in 1952 and reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals four times, beating Patty, Fraser, Mulligan and Pietrangeli (losing that year to the eventual winner Ashley Cooper 5/7 in the 5th set). Born in 1935, Bobby now coaches locally. I found him in sparkling form, fit and trim. He talked nostalgically of those great days before the Open era. He felt privileged to have been there, loving the travel and adulation. I too felt privileged to see his hard earned trophies, and the sight of so many Davis Cup medals and bars in one place.

17: "My Side of the Net" by Bobby Wilson; 1st edition of 1964; 224 pp in DW. Bobby's autobiography is a great read about 1950's & 60's top level tennis; this copy is signed. £20

FRED PERRY COLLECTION: I am pleased to be able to offer a small quantity of books and wall-plaques (all dedicated to him) from Fred's personal collection. The 1997 Christie's sale realised around a quarter of a million pounds. This included three Renshaw trophies (£32,000, £31,000 and £22,000) and many other silver and personal items, with every lot sold. These nostalgic items are described on a separate list, freely available on request.

CALENDARS FOR 2001 (30cm x 30 cm). Wimbledon will not be issuing a 2001 calendar.

18: "Anna Kournikova": stunning colour photos of the delectable Anna incl. mini-biog. £18

19: "Sanex WTA Tour": Capriati, Seles, Huber, Hingis, Koetzer, Pierce, Serena & more. £15

MAILING COSTS: I have kept my mailing and packing costs constant for a number of years, whilst postal charges have relentlessly increased and my parcels have disappeared. I have abandoned Parcel Force, so most parcels go first class plus compensation insurance, incurring extra costs for me to bear. Current Wimbledon Annuals cost £4.13 for UK mailing plus the cost of the padded bag. From now on, this size of book will be charged at £4 each for UK mailing and pro rata more for non-UK mailing. I regret having to do this, but I can no longer subsidise the combined inefficiency of the Post Office and Parcel Force.

GRAND SLAM TITLES 2000: Stunningly illustrated annuals in very large format (landscape), presented in a card slip-case, the pages laid in without staples. each £65

20: "Australian Open 2000" by Steve Myers "Roland Garros 2000" by Patrice Dominguez

21: "French Open (Roland Garros) Annuals" 1993; 1994; in large slip-case. each £45

22: "Tennis Observed" by Bill Talbert; 1967; 142 pp in DW. This magnificent very large format book reproduces the USLTA Men's Singles draw-sheet in full for every year from 1881 to 1966. Each male winner's progress is detailed, accompanied by a photograph. £165

23: "US Open Programs 1998 and 1999": Large magazines; no draw-sheets. each £15

24: "US Open Program 2000": Large magazine with Finals' day draw-sheet. £20

25: "How To Repair And Restring Tennis And Badminton Racquets Yourself" by C. Stuart; Australia 1931; 39 pp leaflet in soft covers. This is an extremely rare title. £125

26: "British Lawn Tennis and Squash Magazine": 92 editions Sep 1948 to Jan 1967. One lot including UK postage etc. at £150.

27: A Bound Volume; Aug 1957 to Dec 1958 at £30

FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS: I will not be taking The Tennis Bookshop to the Samsung Men's event at Brighton. After two marvellous years in the Battersea tent and one not so good in the Docks tin shed, I regret to say that The London Arena event has been cancelled.

SOME TITLES ON OTHER RACKET SPORTS:

28: "Book of the Ball (The)" by A. E. Crawley; 1st edition of 1913; 220 pp +31 pp adverts; nice red boards; internally some foxing. This is the purist's book about the ball in sport, how it is made, how it works in play and how to make it do what you want it to do. Sports covered include Baseball, Cricket, Football, Bowls, Tennis, Lawn Tennis, Golf, and Billiards. This is a rare and much prized tennis title. Crawley was a brilliant racket sports author. £225

29: "Some Reflections on the Game of Eton Fives" by J. M. Peterson. I have not previously seen this slender little booklet, bound in blue soft covers. It is undated (c1935), but with a wide margin for error! Its 20 pages describe the game, its technique and tactics. This is just about the only title I have ever seen exclusively on the game of Fives. £40

30: "Fifty Years of Sport…at Eton, Harrow and Winchester"; edited by R. H. Lyttleton, Arthur Page and Evan B. Noel; a massive de luxe folio edition of 1922 bound in presentation leather boards, externally the crests of the three schools in colour set in gilt medal circle; 505 pp on high quality art paper, edges rough cut. This is volume 3 of an amazing set of books on sporting contests at Oxford, Cambridge and the Public Schools. Sports covered include Rowing, the Wall Game, Football, Athletics, Fives, Golf, Cricket, Rackets, etc. Every sporting competition from the mid-19th century to 1920 is here in great detail, with results, reports, and team photographs. It is an amazing reservoir of sporting endeavour. The last section of this book contains biographies of every player mentioned. £175

31: "How to Make the Real Tennis Ball from Core to Cover"; by Richard Hamilton; illustrations by Anthony Hobson (signed); published for the T & RA in 1977; 27 pp in PB; ex-lib The Royal Society of Arts, with bookplate; lacks a fep. With its faults, this is still THE manual on how to make the Real Tennis ball. I did not know that 108 balls made a set. £20

32: "Tennis: Lawn Tennis: Rackets: Fives" by Messrs. Heathcote, Bouverie and Anger; various editions including 1st of 1890, 1st de luxe of 1890, 2nd of 1891, 4th of 1897, and 5th of 1903. This is the first major history of Lawn Tennis and the first major compendium volume on Racket Sports. It describes Tennis and Rackets with great feeling, and it is the only 19th century work on Fives. For all four sports, it is a history lesson and a coaching manual; it details the laws and it salutes the past champions. It is beautifully illustrated with engravings. The boards are brown and ornately decorated externally. Each edition is £95

TWO BEAUTIFUL GIRLS BOOKS FROM THE 1930's: These titles are not strictly tennis titles but I could not resist them when I saw them, because they are so lovely.

33: "The Girls' All-Round Book of Stories, Sports, and Hobbies" edited by Mrs. Walter Wood; date is mid 1930's; 357 pp. A large book for young teen girls full of wonderful stories. The front external board and spine each has a girl carrying a tennis racket. Inside at pages 41 to 60 is an essay by English tennis star Betty Nuthall describing lawn tennis. £25

34: "The Girls' Budget"; no named editor; date is c1930; 160 pp. Externally the front and rear boards and the spine have a continuous highly coloured scene in a typical English 1930's back garden with a tennis court. The book contains a series of fanciful stories for young teen girls, although there are no tennis stories. It is well illustrated throughout. £25

SIGNATURES: White postcards signed as follows: "Martina" (Navratilova) at £50; "Peace, Arthur Ashe" at £125; "All the best to you Hana Mandlikova" at £40; "Yours sincerely Helen Hull Jacobs" at £100. Colour photos signed: "Greg Rusedski" at £50; "Vitas" (Gerulaitis) at £35; "Michael Stich" at £50. Black and white photo signed "Hana Mandlikova" c1988 at £30

35: "Harvestehuder Tennis-und Hockey-Club ev Hamburg 1891 bis-zum Olympia-Jahr 1936"; no author; 18 pp. Illustrated German language club history booklet; an unusual and scarce item of the mid-1930's, still with its original blue string spine binding. £75

WIMBLEDON ANNUALS and OTHER WIMBLEDON TITLES: As well as most of the usual Wimbledon Annuals, I am also listing some of my favourite Wimbledon histories.

36: "Wimbledon Annuals" by John Parsons: 1990 at £50; 1991; 1994; 1997 each £90

37: 1986; 1987; 1988; 1989; 1992; 1995; 1996; 1998; 1999; 2000; each £20

38: "The Centre Court and Others" by F.R. Burrow; 1st edition 1937; 312 pp in HB and very rare DW. The famous Wimbledon referee of 18 years service talks about the amazing incidents he has witnessed at Wimbledon and at the many other tennis events he ran. £150

39: "The Centre Court Story, Wimbledon" by Maurice Brady; 1st edition 1957; 227 pp; HB in DW. In my opinion, this is one of the most enjoyable Wimbledon histories. £20

40: "Rothmans Wimbledon on Camera" by Arthur Cole; 1st edition 1981; 256 pp; HB in DW. A huge selection of the photos taken by Arthur Cole at Wimbledon since 1934. £15

41: "Wimbledon Centre Court of the Game" by Max Robertson; 1981; 308 pp; 2nd edition; HB in DW. Max's huge Wimbledon history book is a wonderful labour of love. £10

42: "Wimbledon Who's Who and Tennis Celebrities" 1934 PB; 151 pp. Time capsule. £35

43: "100 Years of Wimbledon" by Lance Tingay; 1977; 256 pp; HB in DW. In this large official souvenir edition, Lance painstakingly retells the story of the great moments. For students of statistics, note that singles draws from the quarter-finals are reproduced. £20

WIMBLEDON PROGRAMMES: I have concentrated on programmes from the end of the Fortnight, thus filled with results. Up to and including 1981, the 12th day was Finals day.
1947: 3rd; 4th; 5th; 6th; 1948: 1st; 7th; 8th; 9th; 10th; each £10
1949: 1st; 3rd; 4th; 5th; 6th; 7th; 1950: 1st; 7th; 11th; 1951: 11th; each £10
12th day: 1952; 1953; 1954; 1955; 1956; 1957; 1958; 1959; 1960; 1961; 1962; each £10
12th day: 1963; 1968; 1974; 1976; 1977; 1978; 1980; 1981; 1983; 1984; 1985; each £10
13th day: 1982; 1983; 1984; 1985; 1986; 1987; each £10
Final editions: 1968 £15; 1981; 1982; 1983 each £10; 1998; 2000 each £6
Royal Box editions: 1986 13th; 1992 6th; 1993 13th; 1994 6th; 13th; 1996 12th each £10

CHRISTMAS BOOK LIST: Here are some suggestions for those of you looking for tennis books suitable as Christmas presents. All are very good USA 1st editions in dustwrappers.

44: "Courting Danger" about Alice Marble; 1991; 255 pp. Subtitled: "My Adventures in World-Class Tennis, Golden-Age Hollywood, and High-Stakes Spying". What a busy girl! £21

45: "Courts Of Babylon (The)" by Peter Bodo; 1995; 480 pp. Subtitled: "Tales of greed and glory in the harsh new world of professional tennis". That seems to say it all! £21

46: "Goddess And The American Girl (The)" by Larry Engelmann; 464 pp; 1988. Subtitled: "The story of Suzanne Lenglen and Helen Wills". Their detailed parallel lives. £25

47: "Hard Courts" by John Feinstein; 1991; 457 pp. Subtitled: "Real life on the professional tennis tours". He talks to all the top players in many informal moments. £21

48: "Ladies Of The Court" by Michael Mewshaw; 1993; 327 pp. Subtitled: "Grace and Disgrace on the Women's Tennis Tour". I will add nothing of my own to that! £21

49: "Remembrance Of Games Past" by John Sharnik; 1986; 374 pp. Subtitled: "On Tour with the Tennis Grand Masters". Interviews with the great tennis stars of earlier eras. £24

50: "Sporting Gentlemen" by E. Digby Baltzell; 1995; 420 pp. Subtitled: "Men's Tennis from the Age of Honor to the Cult of the Superstar". This is a passionate look at tennis history, as charming amateur players gradually became cynical professionals. £21

51: "Tennis: Its History, People And Events" by Will Grimsley; 1971; 380 pp. A collection of essays on the memorable players, moments, events, matches etc in tennis history. £50

52: "TopSpin" by Eliot Berry; 1996; 334 pp. Subtitled: "Ups and downs in big-time tennis". This is Eliot's second tour book; it is a very readable account of life on the circuit. £21

53: "Tough Draw" by Eliot Berry; 1992; 320 pp. Subtitled: "The path to tennis glory". Eliot writes on tennis life at the top, looking at the pivotal matches of 1990 and 1991. £21

CHRISTMAS £10 BIOGRAPHIES BAZAAR: The following tennis biographies are hardback editions, in dustwrappers in good condition, and each is offered at £10 per copy +p/p. "Advantage Striker" by Gardnar Mulloy 1959; "Agassi" by R. Philip 1993; "Big Bill Tilden" by Frank Deford 1976; "Billie Jean" by Kim Chapin 1975; "Billie Jean King" by Frank Deford 1985; "Court Hustler" by Bobby Riggs 1973; "Courting Triumph" by Virginia Wade 1978; "Cross Court" by Bob Jenkins 1986; "David Lloyd" by Richard Evans 1996; "Fred Perry" by Ron Atkin 1984; "The Game" by Jack Kramer 1981; "Hana" (Mandlikova) by Malcolm Folley 1989; "Lloyd on Lloyd" by Carol Thatcher 1985; "Love Match" by Mariana Borg 1981; "Man with a Racket" by Pancho Gonzales 1959; "Off the Court" by Arthur Ashe 1982; "Portrait in Motion" by Arthur Ashe 1975; "Sampras A Legend in the Works" by H. Branham 1996; "Steffi" by Sue Heady 1995; "Tennis My Way" by Budge Patty 1951; "Tennis Rebel" by Mike Davies 1962; "Winner Loses All" about Bjorn Borg 1993.

CHRISTMAS £10 HISTORIES BAZAAR: The following tennis histories are hardback editions, in dustwrappers in good condition, and each is offered at £10 per copy +p/p. "Classic Moments of Wimbledon" by Charles Landon 1982; "Courting Fame" by Karen Stabiner 1986; "Davis Cup" by Edward Potter 1969; "For the Love of Tennis" edited by Ron Atkin 1985; "Game, Set, and Match" by Herbert Wind 1979; "Great Women Tennis Players" by Owen Davidson 1971; "Guinness Book of Tennis Facts & Feats" by Lance Tingay 1983; "Historic Wimbledon" by Richard Milward 1989; "Inside Tennis" by Norman Cutler 1954; "Lawn Tennis" by J G Smyth 1953; "Open Tennis" by Richard Evans 1993; "Shades of Gray" by David Gray 1988; "Story of the Davis Cup" by Alan Trengove 1985; "Tennis a Pictorial History" by Lance Tingay 1977; "Tennis in Our Time" by S. Noel 1954.

SQUASH RACKETS TITLES SIGNED BY THEIR AUTHORS: These extremely famous men were at the very top of the game in their time, either as Amateurs or Professionals. Each title is inscribed and signed by the author. I can offer unsigned copies of these titles, each at £30.

54: "The Art of Squash Rackets" by F.D. Amr Bey; 1st edition of 1934; 144 pp; HB in DW. The great Amr, taught by Dan Maskell in the 1930's, won the Amateur and the Open Championships. This copy is inscribed to "Capt. J.E. Tomkinson In admiration of England's greatest amateur player of the last twenty years. F. Amr 26/3/1934." James Edward Palmer-Tomkinson was Amateur champion in 1926, and England's number one ranked player. £350

55: "The Book of Jonah" by Jonah Barrington; 1st edition 1972; 162 pp in DW. Ireland's great squash player. Hunt and he dominated world squash; they led the squash boom. £50

56: "Squash Rackets" by Hashim Khan; 1st edition of 1968; 162 pp in DW. The Pakistani player who is still considered to be the best squash player of the post 1946 period. £150

57: "The Game of Squash Racquets" by Charles Arnold; 1st edition of 1926; 64 pp; PB in DW. One of the first books on squash, written by a very famous professional champion. £250

58: "Squash Rackets" by Charles Read; 1st edition of 1929; 154 pp. Read was professional champion at Squash, Rackets, and Lawn Tennis at the same time, surely a record. £175

59: "Squash Rackets" by Jack Giles; 1st edition 1961; 95 pp. HB in DW. The avuncular squash pro of the RAC, (he gave over 50,000 lessons), writes a great coaching book. £75

FRANCIS XAVIER "FRANK" SHIELDS: born 18 Nov 1910, died 19 Aug 1975. The handsome USA player who, sadly, is well known as being the only Wimbledon singles finalist, male or female, not to play the final, conceding to Sidney Wood in 1931. Shields was a great US Davis Cup player, and grandfather to Brooke Shields, who managed eventually to incorporate a Wimbledon champion into the Shields family by marrying Andre Agassi!

60: "Bigger Than Life" by William Shields; 1st USA edition 1986. Frank's son writes the rather exciting story of "Pop's" life on and off the court. He was a busy, popular man. £22

TENNIS TITLES SIGNED BY THEIR AUTHORS: First editions in dustwrappers, if issued.

61: "Beyond the Game" by Helen Hull Jacobs; 1936; 275 pp. This is the first female tennis autobiography, presenting the fascinating life story of Wills' constant USA adversary. £250

62: "Fireside Book of Tennis (The)" edited by Allison Danzig and Peter Schwed; 1972; 1043 pp. Always one of my top tennis titles, this huge compendium contains hundreds of great tennis stories from 1874 to 1972. Inscribed by Allison Danzig to his doctor. £95

63: "Inner Game of Tennis" by Tim Gallwey; 1st edition 1975. This is probably the most asked for mental coaching book of all time. It is inscribed and signed by Tim Gallwey. £35

64: "Lawn Tennis" by L A Godfree & H B T Wakelam; 1st edition 1937; 233 pp in damaged DW. Coaching, technique, history, all is here. Signed by Kitty Godfree's husband. £50

65: "Les Dessous du Tennis Feminin" by Nathalie Tauziat; 2000; 212 pp in PB. This is the last of the signed copies I obtained at Wimbledon; remember it is in French only! £25

66: "Love and Faults" by Ted Tinling; 1979; 314 pp. I always quote this as one of the top tennis biographies, encompassing some sixty years of history. Nicely signed by Ted. £75

67: "My Waiting Game" by Angela Mortimer; 1962. She is England's brave Wimbledon champion of 1961 in that exciting final with Christine Truman. Inscribed and signed. £40

68: "Off The Racket" by Philip Hawk; 1st USA edition 1937; 391 pp. Subtitiled "Tennis Highlights and Lowdowns", this is another top tennis title, redolent with amazing tennis history and gossip from the first third of the twentieth century. He includes his all-time greats singles events for men and women. This copy is nicely inscribed by the author. £150

69: "The Net" by Ilie Nastase; 1987; 254 pp. A rather raunchy tennis circuit story involving personal and public conflicts amongst leading tennis players. Signed by Ilie Nastase. £35

70: "Tennis By Simple Exercises" by Suzanne Lenglen & Margaret Morris; 1937. Photos of Suzanne demonstrating the shots. Inscribed to Dorothy Round by Morris. (no DW) £50

71: "White Ladies" by Teddy Tinling; 1st edition 1963; 191 pp. Ted writes about the great tennis ladies for whom he has designed tennis outfits. Inscribed and signed "Teddy T". £80

CLASSIC COACHING TITLES from the early part of the 20th century; hard to find in nice condition, but most importantly they have their original decorative dustwrappers. This list is published primarily for Rachel who shrewdly collects these books. Be first Rachel!

72: "How to Play Better Tennis" by Ellsworth Vines; 1st edition 1938; 119 pp. £75

73: "Lawn Tennis" by Suzanne Lenglen; 1st edition 1925; 127 pp. £80

74: "Learning Tennis" by Betty Nuthall; 1st USA edition 1928; 240 pp. £75

75: "Streamline Tennis" by Mary K. Browne; 1st USA edition 1940; 112 pp. £65

76: "Tennis" by Helen Wills; reprint of 1929; 214 pp. Illustrations by Helen Wills. £75

77: "Tennis Tactics" by R. D. Little; 1st USA edition; 1913; 150 pp. A very early DW! £125

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