An Essay on Archery. Describing the practice of that art, in all ages and nations

Worcester: Printed by J. and J. Holl and sold by J. Robson, 1792. Octavo in half-sheets (21 x 13 cm.), vii, [2], 348 pages. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, an additional engraved title page, and four plates depicting a variety of bows, quivers, and arrowheads. "Errata" slip tipped onto final leaf. FIRST EDITION. A classic work which traces the history of the bow and arrow across several nations and periods, including Britain, France, the Roman Empire, Hellenistic Greece, Mycenea and the Mideast. Chapter 11 describes royal decrees that promoted or restricted archery training. This was the first standard work on archery to appear since Roger Ascham's Toxophilus (1544). It was very popular upon publication, and a contemporary reviewer in the Analytical Review of History and Literature wrote: "without hesitation we promise, not only the lover of archery, but the elegant scholar, and the antiquarian, much entertainment from this elaborate and truly classical performance" (page 393). Bound in contemporary full red morocco; gilt-tooled border, and a handsomely tooled, compartmented spine, with tan spine label. With the binding stamp of Sotheran. Some splitting to joints (but holding). Overall a very handsome copy. Near very good. With a presentation inscription from one of the great book collectors of all time: "Stitchel House A present from the Duke of Roxburgh". [CBEL II 1554; Lake, Bibliography of Archery, page 212].