THE SPORTSMAN'S LIBRARY. By John Mills.

(1845) 1846 1st US edition. 8vo (130 x 200mm). Ppxxiv,20-341 + 22pp ads. Not illustrated. Quarter-bound in later brown leather over marbled paper-covered boards, five raised bands, gilt tooling, black leather spine label titled in gilt.

The first edition was published in London in 1845. This 1846 American edition lacks the illustrations found in the UK edition and has close to one hundred fewer pages, though according to the contents list all of the chapters appear identical. The pagination runs i-xxiii, followed by a blank page, then 20 - 341". Desirous, however, as I am to acknowledge, and pay my tribute of thanks for, the assistance received, I am equally anxious that it be understood that this volume, unlike the generality of sporting works, is not a compilation, nor composed of piratical extracts. Without arrogating to myself more than I feel to be my due, I believe I may justly claim the merit of originality in all except a very few of the matters treated of". Chapters include:- On the breeding and condition of hunters; Condition of hunters [plus four futher chapters]; Age of horses; Hunting and hounds; Kennel, and kennel management; Duty of a master of foxhounds - the huntsman, and whipper-in; Hints upon riding straight to hounds - the staghound, harrier, and beagle; Shooting; Further observations on the choice of guns; Loading a gun, powder and shot, cartridges, wadding, etc; Cleaning a gun, the barrels and locks - shot-pouch, shot-belt, powder flask, nipple probe, etc; Shooting [plus one further chapter]; Partridge, grouse, pheasant, cock, and snipe shooting; Black game shooting on the borders of Devon and Somerset - wildfowl shooting, and deer-stalking; A list, alphabetically arranged, of game, wildfowl, and birds generally pursued by the sportsman, their names as given by Bewick, etc., with a few hints concerning the mode of shooting them; Pointers, setters, spaniels, and retrievers - their breeding, breaking, and management; How to administer medicine to dogs - common diseases, preventives, and treatment; Preservation and rearing of game - destroying vermin, etc; Greyhounds, their breeding and training - coursing, and the laws of coursing; Terms used in sporting; Trout fishing; Pike, perch, and other fishing - rods, lines, hooks, etc; An abridgment of the game laws now in force; A list of the London gunmakers for 1845.