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ALKEN, Henry.
Qualified Horses and Unqualified Riders, or, The Reverse of Sporting Phrases: from the work Entitled Indispensable Accomplishments.
The first of Alken's works to have a title page, "lacking from a great many copies" (Dixon). Signed Ben Tally Ho, the title good-humouredly explains that the plates are a reply to Robert Frankland's "Indispensable Accomplishments", a set of six Leicestershire hunting prints published in June 1811. Where Frankland blames the horse for any failures, Alken aims to show how a perfectly good horse can be handicapped by an "unqualified" or untrained rider.
- Published
- London: Published by S. J. Fuller, at the Temple of Fancy, Rathbone Place; And may be had of all Booksellers in the United Kingdom, 1815.
- References
- Tooley 44; Bobins II 747; OCLC records just four copies only at Detroit public Library the Newberry Library National Sporting Library and the Huntington.
- Plates
- 8
- Binding/Size
- M=4to
- Value
- 0-5000
- Published
- London: Published by S. J. Fuller, at the Temple of Fancy, Rathbone Place; And may be had of all Booksellers in the United Kingdom, 1815.
- Ref
- 610
FIRST EDITION. Oblong folio (380 × 280 mm) engraved introduction, and 7 + 1 hand-coloured engraved plates by Alken. Original printed upper wrapper cut to letterpress and inlaid stitched in modern wrappers and preserved three-quarter red morocco portfolio lettered in gilt on upper cover and spine; bookplate of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, the multimillionaire racehorse owner. The first of Alken's coloured books illustrated with a highly detailed and amusing series of hunting plates. It illustrates the potential hazards awaiting the inexperienced rider on the fox-hunting field. The plates are of very high quality and amply demonstrate the author's knowledge of horses and his love of sporting life. The first of Alken's coloured books. Coloured plates in order: 1. Going along a slapping pace; for the very same reason that a Criminal goes to Goal... 2. Topping a flight of Rails and coming into the next field (but not well.)... 3. Charging an Ox-fence...with good success. 4. Got in and getting out...very clever. 5. Facing a Brook...verifying the old Adage, 'look before you leap.' 6. Swishing through at a Rasper, from your own timidity and mismanagement, cause the Horse to Swerve... 7. Returning Home in Triumph. He distain'd a Slothful Easy Life; so took to Hunting. 8. Lilliputian Poney Races. [4 Jockeys]
