The Arts of Rowing and Training, with an appendix containing the laws of boat-racing, etc., by Argonaut . - Brickwood Argonaut 1866 - Horace Cox, 346 - First Edition A near fine and rare first edition of ‘in all probability the earliest comprehensive work on the technique of rowing’. It was written to supply “the want of a concise, yet withal comprehensive, manual on boat-racing”. Only one previous writer, says the preface, had “been found willing to bequeath to his successors the results of his observation and the fruits of his experience; and even he, if I am not mistaken, excelled rather as a coxswain than as an oarsman”. The reference is probably to A. T. Shadwell.

The contents, which “
embody the precepts which have of late contributed to the repeated successes of the Oxford University crew”, are arranged in 2 parts. Part I, “Rowing”, includes chapters on boats and their fittings, the art of rowing, coaching, steering, sculling, examples of form and style, and the conduct of regattas. The chapters on coaching deplore the contemporary sacrifice of form to pace. The chapter on boats gives an interesting account of the development of outrigged boats and a table of dimensions and prices.

In Part II, “Training”, running before breakfast is condemned, meat should be “just done to a turn, as it is called, not blue or half raw”, and the author expresses his opinion that a limited amount of smoking should be permitted except in exceptional cases.’ No raw vegetables or green tea, but make sure to have a beer with lunch (p. 133-134).
  Porridge need not be discontinued if it has been the custom to take it, but it is not an article that should be specially introduced upon the training table.’ See Pages 121 onwards for recommended diets.

There were two small rowing manual’s that preceded this work, Egan‟s and Shadwell’s
Principles of Rowing and Steering to which Brickwood refers in his introduction and Aquatic Notes (1852) by Bateman and Coombes, neither covering the entire range of training and rowing techniques that are found here in Brickwood’s work.

Edwin Dampier Brickwood (1837-1906) was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls in 1861 and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1859 and 1862. He also wrote about extensively on rowing, and in addition to this work, for many years produced the
Rowing Almanack and Oarsman's Companion and was aquatic correspondent for The Field magazine. His definition of the difference between amateurs and professionals became the standard.

Reference: Brittain,
Oar, Scull & Rudder, 23. Toy, Adventures Afloat, 4199.

Small octavo (binding size 18.4x11.6cm), pp. [2] x [1 (Contents)] [1] 164 [4]. Bound without half-title.
  Contemporary three-quarter black marbled morocco over marbled paper boards, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, all edges trimmed and speckled.   Condition: Near fine, rubbing to folds and corners, internally with some spotting to upper corners of later pages, which appears to be a paper issue and not foxing.   Ref: 111120   Price: HK$ 11,000