A Loose Rein. by [D’AVIGDOR (Elim Henry).] - 1887

By “Wanderer,” Author of “Across Country,” “Fair Diana.” With illustrations by G. Bowers. London: Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., 8, 9, 10, Bouverie Street, 1887. Med.8vo, pp.viii+352; the original eleven 32pp. parts, each with two inserted full-page lithographic plates printed in colours on thick paper; black-and-white illustrations and historiated lettering in text; 4pp. commercial advertisements at front in No.1.; publisher’s inserted slip preceding text, and extra gathering, prelims., 8pp., at end in No.11; pale cream thick paper wrappers printed lithographically in colours, the back wrappers bearing commercial advertisement (for ‘Apollinaris’ and ‘Friedrichshall’), printed in red, black, and green; the inside wrappers bearing commercial advertisements in black (‘Chocolat Menier’ at front, ‘Liebig’ and ‘S. & H. Harris’ at back; enclosed in a fine clamshell box covered in mid-green bookcloth, leather spine-label tooled and lettered gilt. Light dusting to front cover of No.1 and back cover of No.11, and some insignificant spotting of covers elsewhere; opened with a sharp knife, with slight slitting to a few top- or fore- margins; otherwise fine. Set in Ireland. The illustrator, a huntswoman herself, was one of the few female sporting artists of her day. Common enough bound, but very scarce indeed in its original state, as here. The publisher’s slip in No.11 reads: “With the present No. which completes the work, are given TITLE PAGE, CONTENTS, AND LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. COVERS for binding have been prepared by the Publishers, and can be procured through and Bookseller or Bookbinder, price 1s. 4d. each.” The trade binding was of bevelled fine-ribbed cloth, blocked and lettered black and gilt, lettered gilt, on spine and front cover, lettered black-outlined gilt on front cover, ruled black on spine. All books listed by Robert Temple are first editions unless otherwise stated.