Harold Esch (4 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Collectible first edition, first printing of Lawn Bowling Hall of Fame inductee Harold L. Esch's Lawn Bowling Handbook, for decades the standard reference on the sport. Includes a comprehensive history of lawn bowling, detailed rules, instructional illustrations. photos and ads. Esch himself was arguably the most prominent lawn bowler both in the US and internationally at mid-century, winning numerous titles, including multiple US National Championships, and was honored as the 1960's Bowler of the Decade. He's also credited with formalizing the rules of the sport (at long last) and promoting the game to a peak surmounted only by the introduction of 10-pin indoor bowling in the 1950's and 1960's. Specifically, he was closely associated with the Mount Dora Lawn Bowling Association and the Orlando Lawn Bowling Club in Florida - both major venues during this period. The Mount Dora Club remains active and important to this day and maintains 14 greens with a membership numbering in the hundreds. Includes full-page color Walter Mann Co. advertisement, Mann a major manufacturer of bowls, carrying bags and numerous lawn bowling accessories. Also includes a laid-in color postcard featuring an aerial view of the Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club, published by Tichnor Bros., Inc., famous for its strikingly colored linen postcards and prized by collectors. Finally, also laid-in, a photocopy of "Bowling on the Green," an article published in the Oct. 11, 1959 Sarasota Herald Tribune and featuring Esch and Bill Tewksberry (another US Champion) at the Mount Dora Club. Complete as issued. Bound in "lawn" green textured cloth with black lettering to front panel. Mildred C. Weble signed bookplate mounted to front free endpaper. Weble was a notable lawn bowling figure in the mid-20th century, widely recognized for her success in regional and national women's competitions. Her copy. 112 pp. 7 1/2" x 5 1/8". Tight and unmarked with minimal shelf wear and faint age toning to internals. A beautiful copy of an important lawn bowling history and guide. Photographs of or additional information about this item are available on request. All inquiries answered promptly.

Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good.

First edition. With several diagrams, one photograph and three advertisements. Original plain green cloth, simply lettered in black on front; covers nice and clean. Ink gift inscription on front endpaper; endpapers toned. Near fine. **Together with** A group of four letters concerning the discovery and description of a group of old bowling balls found in a house in Chevy Chase, Md., including two TLs by Esch; and one issue of Southeast Bowler newsletter (Vol.7, no.8, June 1958). All a bit age-toned, newsletter with light edge-wear. Very good. (Note: ". a new book on Lawn Bowling from the American standpoint ." c.f. introductory letters. Esch was winner of eight US Open championships between 1958 and 1987 (singles, pairs and triples), and historian for the American Lawn Bowling Association.).

Condition: NF. Hardcover book bound in the publisher's cloth. 19 cm. 112 pages. Contains a few black-and-white illustrations. This copy has been signed by Harold L. Esch directly on the front loose end page. The book is in near fine condition. No other ownership marks/writing present within. Hinges tight, interior pages bright. End pages age toned. Light edge wear/bumping to the cloth covers. Scarce, especially when signed.