Alken, Henry

FIRST EDITION, folio (482 x 302mm.), etched additional pictorial title and 50 plates by Henry Alken, all coloured by hand, contemporary half calf, binding worn, rebacked retaining original spine

Schwerdt I:19; Swift, Bibliotheca accipitraria II, 15.01; Tooley (1954) 41 ("Alken's most important work")

the condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"Perhaps Alken's best known and most comprehensive work" (Schwerdt, I, p.19), The National Sports of Great Britain contains illustrations of horse racing, angling, shooting, fox hunting, and coursing, as well as prize fighting and cock fighting. It should not be confused with an identically titled work published in 1825 (see lot 5), which contains different plates, albeit with similar subjects, though "hawking", the first plate in this work, is not represented in the later work.