1802 Somervile The Chase Bewick Hunting Red Morocco Leather Fine Binding Bulmer For Sale

WILLIAM SOMERVILE — THE CHASE: A POEM

1802 • Second Bewick Edition • 13 Wood Engravings • Full Crimson Morocco Leather

SOMERVILE, William. The Chase: A Poem.

London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co., Shakespeare Printing Office, Cleveland-Row, 1802.

Tall octavo. xxiii, [1], 105, [1] pages. Illustrated with thirteen wood engravings, including the title-page vignette.

An attractive copy of Somervile’s classic hunting poem, combining Bewick wood engravings, Bulmer’s fine printing and a contemporary full crimson morocco leather binding with a broad gilt Greek-key border.

The second Bewick edition, following Bulmer’s larger quarto edition of 1796.

The Bewick illustrations

The volume contains thirteen wood engravings: twelve engraved by Thomas Bewick after designs by his brother John Bewick, and a final engraving by Thomas’s pupil Charlton Nesbit.

Hounds, hunting scenes, rural landscapes and ornamental compositions appear throughout the volume. The detailed wood engravings complement both the sporting subject and the spacious typography.

This collaboration between the Bewick brothers gives the edition particular interest for collectors of English wood engraving and illustrated sporting literature.

Somervile’s hunting poem

First published in 1735, The Chase treats hunting and country pursuits in blank verse, combining practical observation with an elevated poetic style.

Its subjects include hounds, kennels, the breeding and training of dogs, and the pursuit of game. Somervile’s descriptions of animals and landscape make the work an enduring example of English sporting poetry.

The crimson morocco binding

Contemporary full crimson morocco leather, with a broad gilt Greek-key border framing both covers, supplemented by gilt and blind rules.

Raised spine bands divide richly gilt compartments, with a contrasting leather lettering label. All page edges are gilt.

The geometric cover borders and ornamental spine create a striking contrast with the red leather. The binding is unsigned; no attribution to a particular workshop is made.

Provenance

Bookplate of Johannes Bernard on the front pastedown.

Condition

Very good overall.

The binding remains sound and attractive, with rubbing to the joints, spine ends, raised bands, corners and board edges. The spine shows surface wear, and the covers have scattered marks and variations in tone. The gilt decoration remains clear and bright. Both boards are securely attached.

The text is generally clean, with occasional light spotting and age toning. The wood engravings retain clear detail. The gilt page edges remain attractive.

Please examine all photographs carefully, particularly those showing the spine, joints, corners, bookplate and illustrated pages.

Bibliographical details

• Author: William Somervile

• Title: The Chase: A Poem

• Place and date: London, 1802

• Printer: W. Bulmer and Co., Shakespeare Printing Office

• Edition: Second Bewick edition

• Format: Tall octavo

• Pagination: xxiii, [1], 105, [1] pages

• Illustrations: Thirteen wood engravings

• Artists: Thomas Bewick after John Bewick; final engraving by Charlton Nesbit

• Binding: Contemporary full crimson morocco leather

• Edges: All gilt

• Provenance: Johannes Bernard bookplate

• Language: English

A decorative copy bringing together English sporting poetry, Bewick illustration and an attractive gilt morocco leather binding.