ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851)
Lot 18

ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851)

Comparative Meltonians as They are and as They were by Ben Tally-Ho. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1823 [watermarked J. Whatman 1822].

Closed13 July 2023

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GBP 3,024

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ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851)
Comparative Meltonians as They are and as They were by Ben Tally-Ho. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1823 [watermarked J. Whatman 1822].
‘One of Alken's most brilliantly coloured hunting sets and one which is very rarely found in its original wrapper' (Schwerdt). The large 'magnificently coloured plates' contrast those riders in steadfastly correct dress and with genuine consideration for the good of their horses, with newcomers dressed as dandies, exhibiting excessive zeal with no thought for their horses. The publication price of two guineas is given on the front wrapper. Bobins IV, 1375; Dixon 53 ('beautiful and excessively rare'); Mellon/Snelgrove 18; Schwerdt I, p.13; Siltzer pp.59 & 71; Tooley 23 ('A very rare series, among the largest and finest of Alken's plates').

Oblong folio (320 x 500mm). Letterpress title, 6 hand-coloured aquatint plates by G. Hunt after Alken (plate 4 a little spotted in sky area, slight spotting and browning at page edges). Original pink wrappers, front cover printed with title, back cover with advertisement for books by Alken and others (spine rubbed and repaired, slight staining to back cover, both covers lined with off-white paper). Modern grey cloth portfolio and slipcase backed in red morocco. Provenance: Le Vivier Library (sold Christies, South Kensington, 30 October 2012, lot 40).