Beschreibung:

ALKEN, Henry]. How to qualify for a Meltonian: Addressed to All would-be Meltonians by Ben Tally-Ho . London: S. and J. Fuller, 16 July 1819 [plates watermarked J. Whatman 1817]. Oblong 2° (337 x 430mm). 3ll. letterpress, 6 hand-coloured engraved plates by and after Alken. (A few tiny spots, margins a little soiled and frayed, plate 6 with several marginal tears and small stain at bottom margin.) Original buff printed wrappers with title printed on front and advertisements for S. and J. Fuller's books, the majority by Alken, on back cover (rebacked but spine split, extremities worn); later grey cloth portfolio and morocco-backed case. Provenance : Charles C. Auchinloss (bookplate). 'ONE OF THE FINEST OF ALKEN'S SETS, produced during the great period of the Leicestershire hunts' states Schwerdt who considers the book 'very rare' with text and in wrappers. Sparrow praises Alken's 'mood of high comedy free from caricature'. The descriptive text, by Alken himself, is part of the burlesque. His advice to the would-be Meltonian on taking a difficult jump is to adopt an 'extremely careless' attitude. 'However extraordinary the leap may be, never appear to think it of consequence'. In the corresponding plate, an impeccably-groomed rider shows all the nonchalance that the text recommends by gliding over a fence with one hand in his pocket. Mellon/Snelgrove 10; Schwerdt I, p. 15; Siltzer p. 58; Sparrow p. 16; Tooley 29: 'the text is rare and frequently missing'.