CAVENDISH, William, Duke of Newcastle (1592-1676). A General System of Horsemanship in all its Branches. London: J. Brindley, 1743. 2 volumes, 2° (524 x 367mm). Ruled in red. Half-title, double-page engraved title-page in French with imprint of J. van Meurs, Antwerp: 1658, 42 double-page engraved plates on guards, 20 anatomical plates of horses (12 printed in sepia, 2 double-page), 8 engraved headpieces (one in sepia), 6 engraved historiated initials (one in sepia), woodcut text diagrams. Author's preface (pp.3-4) bound in vol. 2. (Spotting, one lower blank corner torn.) Contemporary red morocco gilt, gilt edges (rebacked in calf, some wear, mostly at extremities). Provenance: John Maude, 1809 (inscription on titles).
CAVENDISH, William, Duke of Newcastle (1592-1676). A General System of Horsemanship in all its Branches. London: J. Brindley, 1743. 2 volumes, 2° (524 x 367mm). Ruled in red. Half-title, double-page engraved title-page in French with imprint of J. van Meurs, Antwerp: 1658, 42 double-page engraved plates on guards, 20 anatomical plates of horses (12 printed in sepia, 2 double-page), 8 engraved headpieces (one in sepia), 6 engraved historiated initials (one in sepia), woodcut text diagrams. Author's preface (pp.3-4) bound in vol. 2. (Spotting, one lower blank corner torn.) Contemporary red morocco gilt, gilt edges (rebacked in calf, some wear, mostly at extremities). Provenance: John Maude, 1809 (inscription on titles).

Details
CAVENDISH, William, Duke of Newcastle (1592-1676). A General System of Horsemanship in all its Branches. London: J. Brindley, 1743. 2 volumes, 2° (524 x 367mm). Ruled in red. Half-title, double-page engraved title-page in French with imprint of J. van Meurs, Antwerp: 1658, 42 double-page engraved plates on guards, 20 anatomical plates of horses (12 printed in sepia, 2 double-page), 8 engraved headpieces (one in sepia), 6 engraved historiated initials (one in sepia), woodcut text diagrams. Author's preface (pp.3-4) bound in vol. 2. (Spotting, one lower blank corner torn.) Contemporary red morocco gilt, gilt edges (rebacked in calf, some wear, mostly at extremities). Provenance: John Maude, 1809 (inscription on titles).

LARGE-PAPER COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH of Newcastle's comprehensive work on horses and horsemanship, accompanied, in the second volume, by the first edition in English of Gaspard de Saunier's La Parfaite Connaissance des Chevaux. The Duke of Newcastle's equestrian skills were renowned, and his riding school at Antwerp attracted students from across Europe. Ben Jonson celebrated this skill in The Underwood (epigram LIII). Newcastle's work first appeared in French in 1658, lavishly illustrated with engravings after A. de Diepenbeke. The engravings in the present edition are printed from the same original copperplates, acquired by Brindley for his 1737 French edition. Mennessier de la Lance II, p.250; Mellon/Podeschi 49; Nissen ZBI 849. (2)

More from The Le Vivier Library of Sporting Books and Modern First Editions

View All
View All