How to play Darts by Dave Whitcombe

How to play Darts (Illustrated 1981 Darts Guide in Dust Jacket)

A Illustrated Instructional Guide to Darts by Former BDO Major Finalist Dave Whitcombe

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: How to play Darts
• Author: Dave Whitcombe
• Publisher: The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, London
• Publication Date: 1981
• ISBN-10: 0600346587
• Edition Details: Hamlyn hardcover edition, 1981.
• Binding: Publisher's black pictorial hardcover with printed photographic boards, in a photographic dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Small octavo, roughly 220 x 160 mm, 62 pages. Illustrated with many black and white photographs.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior / Boards: The black boards carry the cover photograph and are clean and glossy, with a straight spine and no obvious wear. Corners and edges are fairly sound.
• Interior: The text pages are cream, clean and legible, with black and white photographs. No foxing, tears or markings are evident, and the binding appears tight.
• The Dust Jacket: Present. The photographic jacket repeats the cover image and is intact, with light surface scuffing and fine marks across the front and back, most visible on the dark areas. A small pale mark sits at the lower fore-edge, and a small barcode sticker is on the lower left of the back. It is protected in a durable archival-type plastic cover.

Synopsis & Historical Value

How to Play Darts was published by Hamlyn in London in 1981 as an illustrated instructional guide to the game. Written by the player Dave Whitcombe, it combines practical advice on technique with his own career and playing experience, and is illustrated throughout with black and white photographs.

The book also includes a chapter profiling leading professional players of the day, among them John Lowe. It offers a snapshot of the sport as it was played and presented in the early 1980s, a period when darts enjoyed a growing public following.

A clean, complete-looking copy in its photographic dust jacket, of interest to collectors of sporting literature and to darts enthusiasts.

Author Profile: Dave Whitcombe

Dave Whitcombe, born on 27 June 1954 in Chatham, Kent, is an English former professional darts player. He appeared in nine BDO major finals, winning three and finishing runner-up six times.

How to Play Darts was his first book.