Tennis Collectables

Instruction & Coaching Books
To 1918

This section contains Coaching/Instruction books published up to 1918. The books are listed in alphabetic order of title.

All books are British hardback editions without dustwrapper (D/W) unless otherwise stated. A description of the condition of each book is given using the following terms/abbreviations:
Mint - as new; VG - very good condition; Good - obviously used but complete with no major faults; Ex library - from a public or school library and may contain the occasional stamp or label but in many cases this is the only indication.

As stock is continually changing please email Tennis Collectables with a list of the item(s) you are interested in. We will then get back to you with details of postage costs. All prices include postage within the UK; overseas customers will be charged postage – it costs around $6 to send an average hardback book by Priority Airmail to the USA. We can accept payment by PayPal, Sterling cheques and Postal Orders, and International Money Orders in sterling.

BADMINTON LIBRARY - SEE 'TENNIS, LAWN TENNIS, RACKETS, FIVES - BADMINTON LIBRARY OF SPORTS & PASTIMES' WITHIN THIS SECTION

GREAT LAWN TENNIS PLAYERS THEIR METHODS ILLUSTRATED - BELDAM & VAILE. MacMillan; 1905 1^st Edition; 403 pages. A classic early action photograph book showing how strokes should (and shouldn’t!)  be played. Over 225 fascinating photographs of stars of the day demonstrating the strokes. Gilt decoration and lettering to front board/spine. Scarce.
VG – minor marking to lower corners of covers and light edgewear to boards. Binding beginning to weaken, gift inscription on front endpaper, very light crease towards right hand edge of pages in second half of the book £250.00 (approx $425.00)


GREAT LAWN TENNIS PLAYERS THEIR METHODS ILLUSTRATED - BELDAM & VAILE. MacMillan; 1905 1^st Edition; 403 pages. A classic early action photograph book showing how strokes should be played. Over 225 extremely interesting historical photographs of stars of the day demonstrating the strokes. Scarce.
VG - book has been rebound in red cloth with gilt labelling and decoration to spine. Although an ex-library copy the only indication is an unused label on rear endpaper. There is some edgewear to boards particularly at top of spine £150.00 (approx $255.00)

GREAT LAWN TENNIS PLAYERS THEIR METHODS ILLUSTRATED - BELDAM & VAILE. MacMillan; 1907 Reissue; 403 pages. A classic early action photograph book showing how strokes should (and shouldn’t!)  be played. Over 225 fascinating photographs of stars of the day demonstrating the strokes. Gilt decoration and lettering to front board/spine. Scarce.
VG – five pages of plates have been removed but there are modern copies loosely inserted into the book £75.00 (approx $127.50)

LAWN TENNIS GUIDE OR THE STROKES AND SCIENCE OF LAWN TENNIS - P A VAILE. British Sports Publishing Co; ?1912 Edition; 163 pages plus 19 pages of adverts. Published as part of Spalding's Athletic Library this book contains 73 wonderful photographic plates demonstrating the strokes. Compares the different methods in use in England, America & Australasia, showing all the different strokes. Also explains the singles game, doubles, mixed doubles, and Ladies singles & doubles. Includes sections on practice and training, value of rotation, defective hold of the racket, and position of players. Contains a number of fascinating advertisements for tennis and golf equipment.
VG (some marks to front cover) £45.00 (approx $76.50)
VG (small water mark to lower corner of  pages and front cover at spine; corner of front endpaper clipped) £30.00 (approx $51.00)

LAWN TENNIS ITS PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE - J PARMLY PARET. MacMillan; 1904 1^st US Edition; 419 pages. Part of the American Sportsman’s Library this book by the renowned American author contains sections on History, Methods of Play, Physiological Side of the Game, Lawn Tennis Encyclopaedia and Lacrosse. There are many b&w plates together with a very useful bibliography. There is attractive gilt decoration to the front board. A scarce book.
VG (old tape mark to spine edge of two pages) £175.00 (approx $297.50)


METHODS AND PLAYERS OF MODERN LAWN TENNIS - J PARMLY PARET. American Lawn Tennis 1915 1^st US Edition; 295 pages. Early coaching manual which also seeks views of players on a number of disputed points of play. Volume 4 of the very collectable Lawn Tennis Library.
VG rear board marked and small dent £80.00 (approx $136.00)


R F & H L DOHERTY ON LAWN TENNIS - R F & H L DOHERTY. Lawn Tennis; 1903 1^st Edition; 146 pages. The classic book by  the British brothers describes their methods of play. Chapter headings include The Strokes, Singles, Doubles & Mixed Doubles, Hints on Practice Training & Match Play, Brief Notes For Beginners With A List Of Common Faults, Our Impressions Of Play & Players In America, Ladies Play (by Miss Toupie Lowther), Some Hints On The Construction & Care of Grass Courts (by George Hillyard), and How Lawn Tennis Compare With Some Other Games (by Eustace Miles). There are also lists of Champions, Rules, and Regulations. Illustrated by 27 b&w photographic plates.
VG – some light soiling/marking to boards; foxing throughout the book but plates are NOT affected; neat tape repair to one page; one plate (W A Larned) missing £120.00 (approx $204.00)


SECRETS OF LAWN TENNIS - F W PAYN. Upcott Gill; 1906 1^st Edition; 176 pages. A fascinating and wide-ranging early book which deals mainly with the technical side of the game. In 4 sections - Miscellaneous (City Man & Winter Tennis, Athletics & The Brain, Born Champions, and Involuntary Champions), How To Play Lawn Tennis (Follow-Through, Shoulder v Elbow, Forehand Drive, Stop Volley, Offensive Game, Passing Strokes, and Parmly Parets Book), Diet & Climate (Diet & Training), and Some Tennis Topics (Mr Vaile Again, The LTA, Mishaps, Net Cord Strokes, Varsity Tennis, Level Courts, Lawn tennis In England, Eastbourne & Other Topics, and Tournament on the Cote D'Azur).
VG (light stain to extreme edge of some pages, light marking to covers, previous owner name ink-stamps on front endpaper) £75.00 (approx $127.50)

STRUCNY NAVOD JAK HRATI LAWN TENNIS – NAPSAL O HUSAK. Emanuel Fiedler; not dated (circa 1914) Czech Softcover Edition; 40 pages. Czech language book published in Prague (title translates as Concise Instruction On How To Play Tennis) which is an introductory coaching book, outlining equipment, strokes, tactics, rules etc. Illustrated with b&w photos including Anthony Wilding and Slava Zemla (?Czech Davis Cup player) demonstrating the strokes. Includes equipment adverts of Slazenger and Davis rackets and balls. Latest date that can be found in the text is 1914 from a Slazenger advert. Scarce.
VG £65.00 (approx $110.50)


TENNIS, LAWN TENNIS, RACKETS, FIVES - BADMINTON LIBRARY OF SPORTS & PASTIMES. Longman's Green & Co; 1890 1^st Edition; 484 pages. An early classic book on 4 racket sports. The section on Tennis covers the Origins and Early Development of the game, Laws of Tennis, Introductory Coaching, and Records of Matches and Memoirs of Eminent Players. The section on Lawn Tennis covers the Origins of the Game, the First Tournament, Development of Lawn Tennis, the Court and Equipment, Introductory Coaching, Tactics, a Reminiscence of 15 years of Lawn Tennis by Spencer Gore, Ladies Lawn Tennis by Lottie Dod, Lawn Tennis in America, and Handicapping and Management of Tournaments. The section on Rackets covers the origin of Rackets, Professional Players, Amateurs, and Practical Instruction. The short section on Fives covers the history of the game and includes some introductory coaching. B&W plates and illustrations throughout the book.
Standard edition in brown boards with black white and gilt decorations to spine and front board. This copy is in VG condition apart from minor wear/fraying to spine and corners of boards. Two small ink marks to lettering of front cover. Internally hinges beginning to weaken and light foxing throughout. £150.00 (approx $255.00)   SOLD OUT

Standard edition in brown boards with black white and gilt decorations to spine and front board. This copy is in VG condition with minor edgewear to the boards and ends of spine. Internally binding beginning to weaken. £125.00 (approx $255.00)   SOLD OUT


TENNIS, LAWN TENNIS, RACKETS, FIVES - BADMINTON LIBRARY OF SPORTS & PASTIMES. 1987 reissue of the 1903 edition. This is one of the early classic books on tennis which describes the origins and early development of the game together with introductory coaching. Contributions from Lottie Dod, Wilberforce, Lawford, Gore, Sear and Chipp. 491 pages.
Near Mint £15.00 (approx $25.50)


TENNIS PRIMER: HOW TO PLAY TENNIS FOR BEGINNERS – P A VAILE. British Sports Publishing Co; 1922 Edition; 55 pages plus adverts. Published as No 1 in the Spaldings Primer Series, this coaching book covers the basics for the novice with a section on Making & Keeping a Court. 24 plates illustrate the strokes and there are 15 pages of adverts for Spalding tennis equipment – rackets, balls, posts, nets, shoes.
Good – staples rusty, cover is detached and creased/edgeworn £20.00 (approx $34.00)