Believed to be the first ever printed image of real tennis/jeu de courte paume: a page printed on vellum from a French Book of Hours printed in Paris

Believed to be the first ever printed image of real tennis/jeu de courte paume: a page printed on vellum from a French Book of Hours printed in Paris by Philippe Pigouchet circa 1497/98, containing a vignette showing a game of tennis being played in a cloister with architectural features recognisable as a real tennis court, 16.9 by 10.6cm., the entire page is in excellent condition, with original hand colouring (blue and gold-leaf) to the small initial, original faint red ruling, and a strong impression of the tennis print The image is from a time earlier than when the use of racquets was adopted. The players are just wearing gloves to strike the ball. It is believed to be the only print of tennis being played under these early circumstances. The image has been used as an illustration in various tennis history books, including Ball, Bat and Bishop (R. Henderson,1947, p.61), The Royal Game (Butler ed.,1989, p.90), Kulturgeschichte des Tennis (H. Gillmeister,1990, p.27) etc. It is difficult to be precise about the earliest pictorial representations of tennis, as it depends on how the term 'tennis' is defined. Tennis evolved from game of 'jeu de paume', literally meaning 'game of the palm.' There would have been numerous hand and ball games being played in medieval Europe all with varying local rules. Indeed there are a number of depictions in manuscripts of these games including one that has been dated to as early as circa 1300. It is difficult to conclude, however, that any particular activity is 'tennis' as we more or less know it today unless there are recognisable features of a formalised playing court. Taking this more restricted definition, in order to be certain that we are looking at a game of tennis, then we need to look for depictions of 'jeu de courte paume', as distinguished from the more general, numerous and earlier 'jeu de paume' forms. In chronological order we would need to see architectural features familiar as a real tennis court, and then at a later date the first use of racquets on court as opposed to using the hand, and then finally the addition of a net between opponents. There is a very small group of extant illustrations, all remarkably similar in design, showing what can be discerned as jeu de courte paume. The first is a manuscript dated circa 1480 (British Library: Harley 4375). This is then followed by the first printed image, which is what is being offered here at the auction, a page from Philippe Pigouchet's Book of Hours circa 1497/98. Pigouchet's printed image appears to have been subsequently copied in a manuscript from the early 16th century (Bodleian Library, Oxford: MS. Douce 135). A complicating factor in presenting this argument is that there are two main theories about the origin of the architectural features that constitute the 'real tennis' court, especially the penthouse with its roof. The oldest, and it has to be said still the most widely supported theory, is that the origin can be found in the monastic cloister. A more recent theory by Morgan is that the real tennis court derives its present form from the small penthouses that were attached to the shops of medieval towns. The argument appears to be based on two illustrations of such town architecture, both in manuscripts from circa 1450. As such the evidence is far from being wholly conclusive, as these illustrations only show a rudimentary roof on one side and no walled court. As there is no resemblance to a tennis court proper, we do not know for certain what game is being played either. It may well be another ancient ball game now lost in the mists of time. For the record Gillmeister put forward a third theory, but it did not attract any followers. However, whatever theory one chooses to supports it would have to be agreed that Pigouchet provided us with the first PRINTED image of tennis. In his book Gillmeister discusses the image and points out some interesting details: ''The purse that is being exchanged between two spectators indicates that the game is being played for money. The marker stands in the doorway, having thrown a flat tile on the floor to mark the 'chase', the place where the ball was only just played. The small boy is believed to be the ballboy.'' To conclude the chronology of tennis imagery, next come illustrations like those seen in Perriere's book, 1539, that show not only the court's recognisable architectural features, but also players using racquets. A little bit later, a net (in the form of a cord) is further added.