SHIELDS, Henry (illus.); MEIKLE, James.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Famous Clyde Yachts. 1880-87. First and only edition of this handsome visual record, this copy in the scarcer publisher's morocco binding (it is usually found in blue cloth). The Royal Clyde Yacht Club, founded in 1856, was the biggest in Britain at the end of the 19th century and Clyde yachts were world famous as pioneers of the relatively new sport of yacht racing."It will be seen that (for the most part) the period dealt with is that lying between the beginning of 1880 and the end of 1887. Four boats built prior to 1880 have been given a place in our book - namely the Cyprus, Madge, Neva, and Viril - because they were amongst the most notable of the boasts which ushered in the type so popular in after years" (Preface).The fine chromolithographs reproduce a series of watercolours by Henry Shields RBA (1859-1935) showing famous yachts or "white wings". Three of them were America's Cup challengers: the Genesta (1884), Galatea (1886), and Thistle (1887).

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