$5,000
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd,
1904.
1st Edition.
Two-volume deluxe vellum edition of: 'The Sporting Repository' containing chapters on: Horse-Racing/ Hunting/ Coursing/ Shooting/ Archery/ Trotting and Tandem Matches/ Cocking/ Pedestrianism/ & Pugilism
Copy #5 printed on hand-made paper in the 'Subscriber's Edition' limited to only 50 copies
Illustrated throughout vols I & II with superb hand-coloured plates with tissue guards present by the leading 19th century English sporting artists of the day:
(16) by Henry Alken/ (2) J. Barenger/ (2) Dighton/ & (2) Ben Marshall
Furthermore with pristine, museum-worthy provenance: The F. Ambrose Clark Collection
He was a world-class equestrian, race & steeplechase horse owner,
philanthropist & heir to The Singer Sewing Machine fortune.
His set is both elegantly fountain-tipped signed @ the head of ffep as well as with his armorial ex-libris (1907) bookplate depicting a fox in pursuit by 'FTC' affixed
The glorious vellum gilt embossed spine is accented in a pearl grey cloth board.
This is truly a connoisseur's 'presentation' set worthy of the finest 'country gentleman' sporting library then.