Thoughts on Fox and Hare Hunting; in a Series of Familiar Letters to a Friend. By Peter Beckford, Esq. A New Edition; Illustrated by Plates from Original Paintings, Engraved by Mr. John Scott. Albion Press: Printed for James Cundee, Ive-Lake; and Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, 1810, full-leather, 314 pp, 8.5 x 5.25", 8vo.
In fair condition. Front board completely detached from binding, but included. Leather boards exhibit scuffing to edges and corners are bumped. Binding split in half. All edges marbled. Ex-libris stamp on front paste-down: Sir Alexander Ramsay of Balmain Bart. Previous ownership signature on front end-page: John William Streeter - London, October 1944. Some foxing throughout text-block, mostly to plates. Some instances of toning, finger soiling, and chipped pages. Rear board attached by cording only - fragile. A complete work. Please see photos.
Author: Sir Peter Beckfrod (1740-1811) was a British writer, landowner, art collector and politician who was the patron of classical composer and pianist Muzio Clemeti. A prominent member in the English fox-hunting community, he owned a pack of hunting dog and wrote this work, Thoughts upon Hunting, in 1781 which served as a guide to the practice.
Provenance: The Ramsey baronets of Balmain - the book could have belonged to either Sir Alexander Ramsay, 2nd Baronet (1785-1852) or Sir Alexander Ramsay, 3rd Baronet (1813-1875). The Ramsay Braonetcy, of Balmain in the County of Kincardineshire, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on September 3rd, 1625 for Gilbert Ramsay.
This book can be read through for scholarly research, or for restoration.
FORN-MSB-0723-0726-HK349