Scarce and Finely Bound First Edition of A Comparative View of the Form and Character of the English Racer and Saddle-Horse

[Broadhurst, J.] A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE FORM AND CHARACTER OF THE ENGLISH RACER AND SADDLE-HORSE DURING THE LAST AND PRESENT CENTURIES. London: Thomas Hookham, 1836. First edition. Rebound in gilt-tooled Tuscancalfskin, spine with raised bands and gilt-lettered black leather label, with marbled and fresh endpapers with original front and rear free endpaper preserved, in a custom matching clamshell box; original green cloth-covered boards and backstrip with paper label preserved in a custom matching red cloth folder; all presented together in a green box. 4to; [i-iii], iv-v, [i], [1]-155, [1]pp. Complete with (18) mounted lithographed plates of portraits of race horses by Gauci and Chalon, numbered and lettered 1-10, G, and 11-17 with a description facing each plate. Unusual to this copy, the plates are beautifully hand-colored. Binding documentation enclosed. Loder 375; Huth p. 127.

Book 11 7/8 x 9 1/2 in.; clamshell box 14 3/8 x 11 1/2 in.; DOA 15 3/8 x 13 1/2 in.

From a Private Collection, Washington, D.C.

This scarce 19th-century title focuses on animal husbandry and race horses, with a final section on horses in the military. Although written anonymously, the author is listed as "[Broadhurst, J.]" in Eileen Loder's classic bibliography on the history of horse racing.

This book was rebound in 2012 by book artists at the Book Arts Conservatory in Washington, D.C. using fine leather, genuine gold, and antique tools.

Binding, clamshell box, and folder near pristine; fresh free endpapers with some light creasing; interior with light toning, edge wear including chips and closed tears, offsetting, and occasional grime, light creasing, or minor stain/mark; scattered foxing concentrated on original free endpapers and plates; one plate with a small repaired tear, one with a tiny corner chip, and one with faint damp staining on verso; plates lacking original tissue guards with some occasional small remnants at gutter; text clean and unmarked; a beautiful copy and especially unique with color plates and the deluxe 21st-century binding.