Sir Henry Raeburn (b.1756-d.1823) after "James Balfour Esq S...

Hammer

£75

Sir Henry Raeburn (b.1756-d.1823) after "James Balfour Esq Secretary & Treasurer of the Edinburgh Company of Golfers" - mezzotint - Henry Raeburn pinx.t. and J Jones sculp.t. Image 18.5" x 14.25" - mf&g overall 26 x 22" - appears early with added part title - some creases above the books on the table. James Balfour was the subject of Raeburn's first golf work and was engraved by Jones in 1796 and it is believed that less than fifty copies were published. Note: Portrait of James Balfour (1705-95), Scottish advocate, author of three philosophical books and keen golfer. On his desk are books titled 'Record of the Gent. Golfers' and 'Bet Book'. As Secretary to the Edinburgh Company of Golfers he would have been involved in compiling the original rules of golf in 1777. His great-great-grandson was Robert Louis Stevenson, who was christened Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson. The Gentlemen Golfers of Edinburgh held the first recorded open golf championship on 2nd April 1744. Note: Part Four - Golf Collection from "David Easby Estate"