(Coaching)

Album of 17 original silver print coaching photographs, upper cover gilt-titled “'All Sport' / Plaza Hotel - Arrowhead Inn - Madison Square Garden / Nov. 23, 1912 / L. Moyes”

On front endpaper is pasted the business card of “Haas / Photographer / 546 Fifth Avenue New York City”, presumably the studio of Robert Haas, an Austrian-born photographer. Each photo, about 5 x 8 inches, is mounted on hinged card stock on two-color under-mats, protected by glassine sheets--a very attractive presentation. Oblong 8vo (10 x 13 inches), New York: Ca. 1912. Original blue calf, a little scuffed, bottom of spine worn, else fine.

An album of exceptional interest, recording the excursion of two four-in-hand coaches (one, presumably driven by Mr. Moyes) beginning at the Plaza Hotel entrance, entering and going through Central Park and up Riverside Drive (past the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument) and thence along the Hudson and into the countryside, where they pose by what is presumably the Arrowhead Inn before returning to New York. On some stretches they share the road with automobiles, and there is a particularly fetching scene of one coach and two cars at a suburban intersection under the watchful eye of a mounted police sergeant. As many as ten elegantly-dressed, carnation-wearing passengers are shown seated atop one of the vehicles, which bears the lettering: “Claremont / Washington Heights / New Rochelle / Fordham”, suggesting that it may be a public coach. We have been unable to trace Mr. Moyes (he was not, apparently a member of The Coaching Club) but on this outing at least, he and his friends seem to be having a good time while it lasted, before the ubiquitous automobile curtailed the sport on public roads. A SPLENDID PICTORIAL RECORD Witkin and London, Photograph Collector's Guide, p. 349.

Item #31719       Price: $1,500.00