INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN, on the choice, care, and management of guns; hints for the preservation of game; directions for shooting wildfowl; &c. &c. &c.
With a concise abridgment of the principal game laws. The Second Edition, with explanatory plates, considerably enlarged and improved. Pp. [xvi]+324+[22](index), hand-coloured frontispiece, plus 5 black & white engraved plates, index; med. 8vo; nineteenth century half calf, spine ruled in gilt around raised bands, with gilt lettered green leather title label, marbled papered boards, lightly rubbed, edges and spine grazed and worn, joints starting; hinges cracking, a little light offsetting, scattered foxing; printed for H. Hunter, London, 1816. Second edition. *Inscribed 'To R Rising Esq with the author's compliments' on the blank preliminary leaf. Most recently from the library of Australian firearms collector Douglas Mills. With provenance notes on the upper free endpaper and on a loosely inserted business card of UK bookseller C. E. Cheshire. In his diary, Peter Hawker recorded visiting Robert Rising in July 1816: 'Proceeded from London by the mail to Norwich, where we arrived on the evening of the 6th, and proceeded in a chaise to Mr. Rising's at Horsey, 130 miles from London'. This was soon after publication of this book, which Hawker noted in his diary entry for June 9: 'Published my second edition of Instructions to Young Sportsmen previously to leaving town.' Hawker seems to have stayed with Rising until July 12, and presumably gifted this copy of the book to him during that time. Horsey Hall, Robert Rising's residence, is in Norfolk. Item #141710
Price: $1,500.00