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Lot 63
ALKEN, Henry [Thomas] (1785-1851)
The National Sports of Great Britain. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825 [watermarked 1822-4].
Closed13 July 2023
Estimate
GBP 1,000–1,500
More Information
ALKEN, Henry [Thomas] (1785-1851)
The National Sports of Great Britain. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825 [watermarked 1822-4].
Fine, large paper copy of ‘Alken's best known and most comprehensive work’ (Schwerdt). Despite having the same title as the folio of 1821, this work, published at three guineas, contains a different series of plates, some drawn from earlier works. Schwerdt notes the importance of the humanitarian preface which deplores 'the abominable exhibition of baiting animals.’ The collection includes 6 plates of horse racing, 10 of fox hunting, 6 of coursing, 12 of shooting, and 2 of fishing, together with others of poaching and the baiting sports about which Alken himself was so critical. The one sport not involving animals is prize fighting. See Bobins II, 746; Melon/Podeschi 121; Schwerdt I, pp.19-20; Siltzer p.72; Tooley 43.
Large quarto (362 x 252mm). Title, preface in English and French, contents leaf, 50 leaves of text and 50 plates coloured by a contemporary hand (light offsetting onto facing letterpress leaf, occasional marginal spotting, heavier to final plates). Contemporary burgundy straight-grained morocco, covers with elaborate border composed of wheatsheaf and palmate roll tool and herringbone blind stamp border, gilt spine, turn-ins and edges (very small chip at head of spine, with small repair and other small repairs to joints and foot of spine, extremities rubbed, corners bumped). Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel H. W. Parker (ink inscription to title-page).
The National Sports of Great Britain. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825 [watermarked 1822-4].
Fine, large paper copy of ‘Alken's best known and most comprehensive work’ (Schwerdt). Despite having the same title as the folio of 1821, this work, published at three guineas, contains a different series of plates, some drawn from earlier works. Schwerdt notes the importance of the humanitarian preface which deplores 'the abominable exhibition of baiting animals.’ The collection includes 6 plates of horse racing, 10 of fox hunting, 6 of coursing, 12 of shooting, and 2 of fishing, together with others of poaching and the baiting sports about which Alken himself was so critical. The one sport not involving animals is prize fighting. See Bobins II, 746; Melon/Podeschi 121; Schwerdt I, pp.19-20; Siltzer p.72; Tooley 43.
Large quarto (362 x 252mm). Title, preface in English and French, contents leaf, 50 leaves of text and 50 plates coloured by a contemporary hand (light offsetting onto facing letterpress leaf, occasional marginal spotting, heavier to final plates). Contemporary burgundy straight-grained morocco, covers with elaborate border composed of wheatsheaf and palmate roll tool and herringbone blind stamp border, gilt spine, turn-ins and edges (very small chip at head of spine, with small repair and other small repairs to joints and foot of spine, extremities rubbed, corners bumped). Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel H. W. Parker (ink inscription to title-page).
ALKEN, Henry [Thomas] (1785-1851)
The National Sports of Great Britain. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825 [watermarked 1822-4].
Fine, large paper copy of ‘Alken's best known and most comprehensive work’ (Schwerdt). Despite having the same title as the folio of 1821, this work, published at three guineas, contains a different series of plates, some drawn from earlier works. Schwerdt notes the importance of the humanitarian preface which deplores 'the abominable exhibition of baiting animals.’ The collection includes 6 plates of horse racing, 10 of fox hunting, 6 of coursing, 12 of shooting, and 2 of fishing, together with others of poaching and the baiting sports about which Alken himself was so critical. The one sport not involving animals is prize fighting. See Bobins II, 746; Melon/Podeschi 121; Schwerdt I, pp.19-20; Siltzer p.72; Tooley 43.
Large quarto (362 x 252mm). Title, preface in English and French, contents leaf, 50 leaves of text and 50 plates coloured by a contemporary hand (light offsetting onto facing letterpress leaf, occasional marginal spotting, heavier to final plates). Contemporary burgundy straight-grained morocco, covers with elaborate border composed of wheatsheaf and palmate roll tool and herringbone blind stamp border, gilt spine, turn-ins and edges (very small chip at head of spine, with small repair and other small repairs to joints and foot of spine, extremities rubbed, corners bumped). Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel H. W. Parker (ink inscription to title-page).
The National Sports of Great Britain. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1825 [watermarked 1822-4].
Fine, large paper copy of ‘Alken's best known and most comprehensive work’ (Schwerdt). Despite having the same title as the folio of 1821, this work, published at three guineas, contains a different series of plates, some drawn from earlier works. Schwerdt notes the importance of the humanitarian preface which deplores 'the abominable exhibition of baiting animals.’ The collection includes 6 plates of horse racing, 10 of fox hunting, 6 of coursing, 12 of shooting, and 2 of fishing, together with others of poaching and the baiting sports about which Alken himself was so critical. The one sport not involving animals is prize fighting. See Bobins II, 746; Melon/Podeschi 121; Schwerdt I, pp.19-20; Siltzer p.72; Tooley 43.
Large quarto (362 x 252mm). Title, preface in English and French, contents leaf, 50 leaves of text and 50 plates coloured by a contemporary hand (light offsetting onto facing letterpress leaf, occasional marginal spotting, heavier to final plates). Contemporary burgundy straight-grained morocco, covers with elaborate border composed of wheatsheaf and palmate roll tool and herringbone blind stamp border, gilt spine, turn-ins and edges (very small chip at head of spine, with small repair and other small repairs to joints and foot of spine, extremities rubbed, corners bumped). Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel H. W. Parker (ink inscription to title-page).
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