[BARNEY, SYDNEY D.]. Clothes and the Horse: A Guide to Correct Dress for all Riding Occasions. London: Vinton & Company Ltd., 1953.
First edition. Hardcover. Cloth-bound with original dust jacket. Octavo (8º)(190 x 130 mm.) pp. 123. Publisher's original red cloth titles in gilt to spine and front cover. Initial and terminal blanks plus half-title present. 21 illustrations including a frontispiece plus 12 more photographic reproductions on plates and additional drawings in the text. With an introduction by James Laver and foreword by The Viscount Knutsford. Presented in the original and complete pictorial dust jacket. Condition: NEAR FINE. Binding tight and secure, the covers and contents very clean indeed. Slight darkening to spine of dust jacket. Without previous ownership markings. An excellent copy of this very rare book.
Notes: First edition of this reference book for the men, women, and children who want to know what well-dressed riders wore in the 1950's. It includes both tailored and ready-to-wear clothes, and stresses economy for the beginner. The frontispiece is a black and white photo of Queen Elizabeth presenting Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Llewllyn with a bronze statuette of Foxhunter at Badminton 1952. There are several other B&W photos and drawings to illustrate the book. “This is a book that often gets advertised in period issues of The Tailor & Cutter. It was published in London, 1953 and presents a classical English view on correct riding attire. It is essential reading for any tailor who is called upon to cut equestrian cloths. Riders have very specific requirements in their sport and the cutter must be mindful of these. A bespoke riding garment has the potential to give the competitor an edge both in their presentation, personal confidence as well as it a greater range of movement permitted by the corrected fitted garment. A good many items in the gentleman's wardrobe such as the dress coat, morning coat and hacking jacket also have their origins in riding attire.”
