picture on front cover/dust jacket
Magnifypicture on front cover/dust jacket


Title Touchers and Rubs on Ye Anciente Royale Game of Bowles
Author Humphrey J Dingley
Publishers Thomas Taylor and David Bryce & Son, Glasgow, Scotland;
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co, Limited, London
First published 1893
ISBN Pre-ISBN system
Edition reviewed 1st
Hardback/softback Hardback
List price Not known
Cover size (cm)
(height x width)		 25.2 x 18.7
Number of pages 100
Number of pages with Coloured photos Black & white photos Line drawings
  None None 56
Synopsis 'A series of notes, facts, records, and comments, touching the development of the game of bowls, from ancient times to the present day [1893]. With over 60 illustrations specially prepared for this work by the author.' Accurately reflecting the contents, these words appear on the title page of this book which is numbered 370 of a subscriber's edition limited to 500 copies.

There is an 'Introductory' followed by six chapters and an appendix. The following list gives examples of some of their contents:

  • Introductory (antiquity; the ball in ancient Egypt; Egyptian toys)
  • Chapter I - Ball-play (classic allusions; superstitious customs; historical notes)
  • Chapter II - Ground Games (quoits; skittles and ninepins; marbles; hoop)
  • Chapter III - Bowls in England (billiards, bowls, and pell mell; greens; the jack, an analogy; Drake's game)
  • Chapter IV - Bowls in Scotland (Glasgow; Edinburgh; Kilmarnock; Lanark; Ayrshire)
  • Chapter V - Bowls Abroad (Ireland; Canada; USA; New South Wales; Victoria; international matches)
  • Chapter VI - Reflections (prejudices; gambling; royal patronage; social aspect of bowling)
  • Appendix (points game; bowling clubs prior to 1850; bowling clubs in Scotland)

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