A Collection of Sporting and Humourous Designs, Comprising a Variety of Entertaining Works . Illustrative of the Manners, Customs, Sports and Pastimes of England
Published by Thomas McLean, London, 1824
- Signed
- Hardcover
- Used





Seller: Donald A. Heald Rare Books (ABAA), New York, NY, U.S.A.Donald A. Heald Rare Books (ABAA)
AbeBooks seller since May 9, 1998
Condition: Used
£ 34,733.76
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
21 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches. 329 exquisitely hand-coloured aquatint plates or soft-ground etchings by Henry Alken (various sizes, 4 folding), all mounted or inlaid within gilt-ruled borders, as issued, and interleaved throughout, general title to each volume, some section titles. Publisher's contemporary green straight grain morocco, ornately gilt with a pictorial sporting motif to covers signed "Knights sc" in gilt, within a diamond border stamped in blind and gilt. Each volume housed in a cloth slipcase. An exquisitely hand-coloured set of this very rare collection of Alken's major works. Included in the compilation are many important plates of shooting, coaching, racing, bull-baiting, owling, and hawking all finely hand-coloured. This example with more plates than any other example known. A remarkable copy that collects Alken's most important work in three volumes from the publisher McLean with more plates included than any recorded known example. "This binding covers one of the collections of plates by Alken which were issued by McLean in 1824; they have nearly all been broken up and are extremely scarce. See de Ricci, The Book Collector's Guide, Philadelphia and New York, 1921, p.16 [.] The binding is very typical of the period, its chief interest consisting in the central ornament composed of sporting paraphernalia and signed 'Knights sc'. The engraver is mentioned in an advertisement of Gosden's Silver Buttons as a partner with Colnaghi and Molteno. The ornament is usually found on copies of Alken's National Sports of Great Britain, 1820, 1821, or 1823" -- G.D. Hobson Each volume has a separate title page. The set comprises: Volume 1: Printed title, dated 1821. Contents: Fox-hunting, 1 plate; Shooting, 4 plates (folding); Coaching, 2 plates; British Sports, colored title and 50 plates; Moments of Fancy, colored title and 13 plates. Volume 2: Printed title. Contents: Fox-hunting, 2 plates; Symptoms of Being Amused, colored title and set of 41 plates; Involuntary Thoughts, 8 plates; Hunting, or Six Hours Sport, printed title and set of 6 plates; Shooting, or One Day's Sport of Three Real Good Ones, printed title and set of 6 plates; 6 miscellaneous plates; Tutor's Assistant, 6 plates; Specimens of Riding Near London, set of 18 plates; Comparative Meltonians, 6 plates; 12 miscellaneous plates. Volume 3: Printed title. Contents: Fox-hunting, 1 plate; Illustrations to Popular Songs, printed title, colored title, and set of 43 plates; Scraps from the Sketch Book of Henry Alken, printed title and 42 plates; 6 additional plates including Earth Stopper, Game Keepers, Huntsman & Whipper In, Post Lads, Poachers, and Fox Hunter; Illustrations to Byron, 3 plates; National Sports, 30 plates; A Touch at the Fine Arts, set of 12 plates; Scenes in the Life of Master George, 11 plates. G.D. Hobson, English Bindings in the Library of J.R. Abbey, 1940, 113, describing a similar set bound in red straight-grained morocco; de Ricci, The Book Collector's Guide, p.16 (3 sets known).…
Seller Inventory # 40541
Bibliographic details
- Title
- A Collection of Sporting and Humourous Designs, Comprising a Variety of Entertaining Works . Illustrative of the Manners, Customs, Sports and Pastimes of England
- Author
- ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851)
- Publisher
- Thomas McLean, London
- Publication year
- 1824
- Signed
- Signed by Author(s)
- Binding
- 3 volumes, folio
- Dimensions
- 21 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches
- Seller catalogs
- Colour-Plate & Illustrated
Donald A. Heald Rare Books (ABAA)
New York, NY, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 18.73 | £ 29.98 |
Payment methods
Store description
Donald A. Heald Rare Books offers the finest examples of antiquarian books and prints in the areas of Botany, Ornithology, Natural History, Americana & Canadiana, Native Americans, Voyages & Travels, Maps & Atlases, Photography and more. Founded in England in 1972, we have formed and contributed to important private and institutional collections. Items of note which we have placed include a unique copy of Abbot’s "Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia" with plates on vellum, an extremely rare extra-illustrated large paper Spanish edition of Blaeu’s "Atlas Mayor," Curtis's "North American Indian," a copy of the Federalist Papers in boards, the first separate printing of the Bill of Rights, and a large paper issue of Redouté's "Les Roses" with the plates in two states. We are renowned for our extensive print inventory which is unsurpassed in quality. Our Sporting collection recently incorporated the complete print stock of Ackermann & Son of London, established in 1783. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, where Mr. Heald has served on the Board of Governors as Treasurer, Security Chairperson, and as Chairman of the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. We are members of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, and the American Historical Print Collectors Society. Mr. Heald is a member of the Grolier Club, and the American Antiquarian Society.…
Specialty
Fine Bindings, Maps and Atlases, Voyages and Travels, Americana, Natural History, Illustrated Books, Historical and Decorative Prints, Colour-plate BooksAssociation member
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.Seller's business information
Donald A. Heald Rare Books (ABAA)
NY, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
To order, please telephone or e-mail. Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, America Express, check, or by wire transfer (please ask for details). Paypal funds should be sent to info@donaldheald.com. Any purchase may be returned within ten days of receipt. We ask that you notify us of the return as soon as possible. Donald Heald, Donald Heald Rare Books, 124 East 74th Street, New York, NY 10021. Telephone: 212-744-3505. Email: info@donaldheald.com.
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You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
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