Lot 105: [PETER HAWKER]

[PETER HAWKER]

Instructions to Young Sportsmen. London: J. Johnson, 1814. 8° (title slightly waterstained), uncut in original green boards (rebacked, preserving part of original spine but not the paper label, corners restored).

FIRST EDITION. This shooting classic was by a former captain in the Peninsular war who had previously published Journal of a Regimental Officer ... in Portugal and Spain" (1810). "Written at the request of some friends and printed for private distribution, only a few supplementary copies being provided for ordinary readers" (Schwerdt), it was to be much expanded and had reached ten editions by the time Hawker died in 1853. An eleventh, edited by his son, appeared in 1859. Chute 284: "In terms of technical expertise and practical directions on shooting it was way ahead of its time"; Schwerdt I, p. 234.

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