"THEY SHOULD SATURATE THEMSELVES WITH THE ADVICE OF MR. VAILE"

(TENNIS) VAILE, Pembroke A. Modern Tennis. New York and London: Funk & Wagnalls, 1915. Octavo, original green pictorial cloth gilt, top edge gilt. $350.

First American edition of this detailed manual for the beginner, with 48 black-and-white photographic plates, including frontispiece portrait, and 34 in-text illustrations and diagrams.

Vaile was one of the most popular and prolific sports writers of the early 20th century. "In an easy, agreeable style, lucid and thoroughly sportsmanlike… tennis is here explained, commented upon, and made absolutely clear by Mr. Vaile from the simple forehand stroke to the most complicated of the American cut services, with a detailed treatment of volleys, smashes, backhand play, etc., in a manner which exhibits the author's profound knowledge and long experience of the game" (Max Decugis, Introduction). First published in London, 1904; a second edition appeared there in 1907.

Near-fine condition.