FALCONRY UNCOMMON. Edited and compiled by George Kotsiopoulos.

1999 1st edition. 8vo (144 x 220mm). Pp120. Two-colour plates, b/w illustrations, bibliography, pictorial end-papers. Blind-stamped titles to paper-covered boards, spine titled in gilt.

"A celebration of the history and traditions of falconry". This book consists of translations of, and illustrations from, early works on falconry: 1. The Taka-Gari translation of an early Japanese work. While the illustrations are early the text appears to me to be an ill-translated description of twentieth century Japanese falconry. 2. The Treatise of Falconry of King Dancus. And 3. The Treatise of Falconry of Albertus Magnus. Translations from a nineteenth century work by H. Martin-Darivault, which was in its turn translated and described French falconry treatises of the thirteenth century. 4. A fragment of an Anglo-Norman Treatise of Falconry. This seems to have been taken from a Swedish work by Gunnar Tilander. A very attractive book until you try to read it. I've spent an hour trying to make sense of it - who wrote what, and when - and I'm not much wiser now. A revised and expanded edition of The Art and Sport of Falconry. Advance information from the publisher stated that this edition was limited (from memory - to 300 copies), but the book makes no mention of this.