[Rural Sports] [Fox-Hunting] Thoughts on hunting. In a series of familiar letters to a friend

Sarum [Salisbury]: printed by E. Easton: sold by P. Elmsley, in the Strand; J. Ridley, St. James Street; London; and W. Sollers, Blandford, 1781. Full Calf. Fine. First Edition, complete with half-title, of this "corner-stone of a huntsman's library." (Gee) Small 4to: [10],334pp (pp. 303-310 misnumbered 301-308), with engraved frontispiece of Diana preparing for the hunt by Bartolozzi after Cipriani and two engraved plates (plan and elevation of stables). Contemporary tree calf, spine in six compartments between raised bands, elaborately tooled in gilt, red morocco lettering piece gilt, marbled edges and end papers, three green silk ribbon markers. Fine, wide-margined copy on heavy paper, virtually pristine. Lowndes I, 136. Rothschild 350 (second edition, 1782). Schwerdt I, 56 ("A famous book on this subject"). Gee, p. 8. Sterling Library 35. Beckford was the first English writer to describe minutely and accurately the whole sport of hunting. "Beckford's works were remarkable because they detailed the grubby nitty-gritty of animal husbandry in a light, eloquent prose. . . . [He] offered detailed advice on all aspects of animal welfare, specializing at various periods in the breeding of harriers, foxhounds, and buck-hounds. Almost a hundred years later his tips on various practical topics were quoted in D. P. Blaine's authoritative An Encyclopædia of Rural Sports. (ODNB) "'Never,'" wrote a writer in the Retrospective Review, "had fox or hare the honour of being chased to death by so accomplished a hunter; never was huntsman's dinner graced by such urbanity and wit. He would bag a fox in Greek, find a hare in Latin, inspect his kennels in Italian, and direct the economy of his stables in exquisite French'". (DNB). N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).