The Chase; To Which Is Annexed Field Sports by William Somervile, Esq. With a Sketch of the Author's Life . . . by Edward Topham, Esq.
London: Printed for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, by C. Whittingham, Chiswick, 1817. Sartorius, Scott. First edition thus (The Chase 1st pub. 1735, "Field Sports" 1st pub. 1742). Hardcover (full leather bound by Zaehnsdorf, gilt stamped). Two works in one. 179p, several colored engravings by John Scott, from original paintings by J.N. Sartorius. Very good (leather spine labels chipped). Item #32981
A handsome little edition of this very popular poem on hare and fox hunting, by a lifelong enthusiast of the hunt. An example of the Georgic style, which extols country life in the classical manner of Virgil's Georgics. "The Chase" is followed by "Field Sports: A Poem Humbly Addressed to His Royal Highness the Prince." Topham introduces the poems with "Memoirs of William Somervile, Esq." and "A Preface, Critical and Explanatory; and Some Annotations on the Text and Nature of the Poem." (Topham unaccountably not in Biscotti or Higginson.) The Chase was often reprinted, but this edition is very scarce. Can be sent outside the US for less than the default shipping rate.
Price: $200.00