THE CHACE. By Nimrod [Charles James Apperley].

(1837) 1931 1st edition thus. 8vo (153 x 243mm). Ppxii,64. B/w illustrations by Edward P. Buyck. Red fox-head motif and titles to green paper-covered boards, red cloth spine titled in yellow to green paper spine-label.

This book "is the most scholarly treatment of the origin, growth and final perfection of the sport of fox hunting that has yet been produced. 'The Chace' originally appeared in the London Quarterly Review under the title 'On English Foxhunting.' As Surtees records, it was immediately 'a great hit' and it is in sympathy with his prediction that 'it will stand its ground to the end of time,' that this edition of it is produced." The first edition of this work in the form of a book appeared in 1837. This copy contains the book-plate of Hal Marchbanks, the printer of this book and quite probably its designer. A subsequent owner has partially obscured Marchbanks' book-plate with his own, smaller book-plate. Chapters include: Introduction by Owen Culbertson; The ancient chace; Early fox-hunting and the horse of 1700; Melton Mowbray and the Thoroughbred hunter of 1830; Hugo Meynell and the Leicestershire hunts; A run with Squire Osbaldeston's Quorn Hounds; The Golden Age of fox-hunting.