THE PARTICK PRESS
Proprietor: David Hamilton
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THE PARTICK PRESS |
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Proprietor: David Hamilton | ||
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Printing by hand with metal type, David Hamilton uses traditional methods and fine mould-made paper. About 350 copies of each book are produced, all numbered and signed, with cloth or quarter leather bindings by the Fine Bindery Wellingborough, UK. Recently, hand-marbled cover papers have been used and wood-engravings commissioned from distinguished artists John O'Connor and Kathleen Lindesley.
The press has been active since 1984 and seven books have been published. The editions are sold out immediately and go mostly to golf enthusiasts, book collectors and other friends of the press, many going to North America, Japan and the Far East. The earlier books in the series are now collector's items in the golfiana world. Books published in the past have included Early Golf in Glasgow (1985), Early Aberdeen Golf (1986), Early Golf at St. Andrews (1987), Early Golf at Edinburgh and Leith (1988), The Sporting Padre (1990) and The Brithers: Early Golf in the South-Sea (1992).
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David Hamilton, 2003
Mathieson's poem The Goff of 1743 is the first and best known literary work on early golf. Though rich in detail, this poem has not had line-by line analysis and the present edition meets this need. The straightforward events of the golf match in the poem are well-known but the meaning of the remaining extra text has eluded historians. As well as commenting on the thrilling match, David Hamilton has analysed the remaining puzzles and proposes a new explanation, namely that the young players are fantasising that they are playing in the company of a well-known golfing clique drawn from the great and good of Scottish society. The climax of this golfing dream is reached when they pose as the finalists in the group's most important golf meeting at Leith Links.
The poem therefore reveals the golfing habits of this clique, well-known at the time, one year prior to the world's first golf club being formed, also at Leith.
In addition, the baffling supernatural element in the poem is revealed as comment on the new sceptical thought of the times. A key point in the game is when the deities are withdrawn from control over the match, leaving the outcome to be decided by human skill alone. Man's destiny is in his own hands, even in golf.
The edition is printed and bound by traditional methods. Quarter leather edition £90 or US$150, postage included. Printed by hand on mould-made Zerkall paper at the Partick Press, using 12pt Caslon Old Style including ligatures and the archaic long-s used in the original printing in 1743. To illustrate the poem, four wood engravings were commissioned from Kathleen Lindsley of Milovaig in the Island of Skye. 250 copies were bound in quarter leather. 44 pages. 24x17cm with Ann Muir hand-made paper marbled cover papers plus slip case. An end pocket contains a 22-page facsimile of the first edition of The Goff.
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David Hamilton, 1999
This is the first serious history of golf to appear for many years. It results from the author's life-long study of the subject, and his earlier Partick Press books on special aspects of golf in Scotland.
300 copies. 280 pages. A4 litho printing in full colour. Many illustrations, quarter leather binding, top edge gilt, special end papers made from grass cut from Leith Links, home of the world's first golf club, special book-mark hand-stamped with 19th century cleek-makers punches, end-pocket with folding map and gazetteer of golfing Scotland. £135 including postage. A paper-cover edition of the text is available at £19.50.
Contact David Hamilton, 'Dalliefour', Barclaven Road, Kilmacolm, PA13 4DQ, Scotland. Phone +44 (0)1505 874240
This page is copyright © David Hamilton 2003.