[Cover title:] 'The Hielant Games'.

(Highland Games.) WATT (Jack)[?]

[Cover title:] 'The Hielant Games'.

[Original drawings of events and participants at the Dunfermline Highland Gathering & Games.]

Description: ink drawing on a laid in bifolium and then 11 pencil drawings in corner mounts, most with captions, one with a small amount of colouring, spotting throughout, a few mounts split with one sheet loose, the programme for the games laid in (a bifolium on pink paper printed at Wm Clark & Son, Dunfermline), this with some erased pencil drafting for the poems written to inside covers, pp. [12], oblong 8vo, stitched (somewhat crudely) into half-tartan and green boards, soiled and worn with the lettering to upper board ('The Hielant Games') a little smudged and faded, fair condition

Publication Details: [Dunfermline?:] n.d., but circa 1890

Notes: The laid-in programme suggests that the contents of this sketchbook relate directly to a gathering at Dunfermline's Urquhart Race Park on 21st July, 1890; it lists events in music and dancing, throwing (caber, hammer, stone- and shot-putting and quoits), jumping (high and long, including a triple-jump), and numerous races (mostly running over various distances, but including the 'Living Wheelbarrow Race', and an 'Old Man's Race'), as well as 'Wrestling (Scotch Style)'. Most of these categories are represented in the well-executed pencil drawings (that in ink showing the whole gathering); in a ...moreThe laid-in programme suggests that the contents of this sketchbook relate directly to a gathering at Dunfermline's Urquhart Race Park on 21st July, 1890; it lists events in music and dancing, throwing (caber, hammer, stone- and shot-putting and quoits), jumping (high and long, including a triple-jump), and numerous races (mostly running over various distances, but including the 'Living Wheelbarrow Race', and an 'Old Man's Race'), as well as 'Wrestling (Scotch Style)'. Most of these categories are represented in the well-executed pencil drawings (that in ink showing the whole gathering); in a couple of instances, athletes are named - including the scratch runner in the longer handicap races, 'J. Hind, Carlisle', his prowess evident by his substantial lead, 'Professor James Lavin from Stirling' glowers from the boxing ring, whilst 'Big John Winter' towers over 'the little Masher'. The final image is of the 'Triumph of Bung', showing the effects of the alcohol consumed during proceedings - largely catatonic, though in one agitated.At either end of the text is a poem opening and closing the ceremony of the Games, that at front mentioning various 'famous names' about to 'show their Micht', that at rear in tribute to the 'Blyth Dunfermline Pipers' and complemented by a vignette of them on the march (and the name 'Jack Watt' at foot). The drafting of these verses on the rear of the programme suggests they are an original composition and that Watt is responsible for the whole work. HIDE

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Price: £500

Subject: History

Published Date: 1890

Stock Number: 74243

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