Feltham's City Steam Works - Revised Laws of Lawn-Tennis - 1880

Revised Laws of Lawn-Tennis – Feltham's – London, circa 1880–1885

A rare and fascinating Victorian booklet devoted to the early rules of modern tennis, probably dating from the early 1880s.

The volume contains the official regulations for Lawn Tennis, adopted by the Marylebone Cricket Club and the All England Croquet and Lawn-Tennis Club, the historic club associated with the origins of the Wimbledon tournament.

Published in London by Feltham's City Steam Works, a company specializing in the manufacture of sporting goods and among the earliest makers of tennis rackets.

Key features:

- Original light blue cover with elegant gilt lettering.
- 18 pages devoted to the rules of tennis.
- Two original diagrams of the court.
- Period illustrated advertisements featuring tennis rackets, balls, and equipment.
- Illustration of Feltham's “Zingari” racket on the back cover.
- Illustrated advertisement for Feltham's “Eton & Harrow” tennis set.
- Original sale price: sixpence.

Historical and Collectible Interest

The booklet bears witness to a pivotal period in the history of tennis, when the rules of the game were gradually being standardized by Britain's leading sporting institutions.

The survival of the original covers and illustrated advertisements for nineteenth-century sporting equipment adds to its appeal for collectors of tennis memorabilia, Wimbledon history, and Victorian sports publications.

Condition: Copy with original covers preserved. Shows signs of age, small creases, and wear along the spine and edges. The internal pages appear generally well preserved and legible. Please refer to the photographs for a detailed assessment.

Dating: circa 1880–1885 (attributed).

An interesting record of the early years of modern tennis, particularly evocative for its original advertising illustrations and distinctive light blue Feltham's cover.