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ALKEN, Henry Thomas.
NIMROD. (Pen name of Charles James Apperley.)
The Chace, the Turf, and the Road.
Charles James Apperley (1777-1843), English sportsman and sporting writer, better known as Nimrod, the pseudonym under which he published his works on the chase and on the turf. A devoted fox-hunter, around 1821 Apperley began to contribute a series of articles to The Sporting Magazine, under the pseudonym of "Nimrod," that covered horse races, hunt meets and other sporting events. His references to the personalities of the people he knew or met at such events helped to double the circulation of the magazine within a few years. Mr. Pittman, the proprietor of The Sporting Magazine, gave Nimrod a handsome salary and defrayed all the expenses of his tours. He also gave Nimrod a stud of hunters. After Pittman's death, the proprietors of the magazine sued Apperley for the money that had been advanced. To avoid imprisonment, Apperley moved to Calais in 1830, where he supported himself by writing. Apperley is best known for his two books, The Life of a Sportsman, and Memoirs of the Life of John Mytton, both of which were illustrated with colored engravings by Henry Thomas Alken. Apperley eventually returned to England and died in Upper Belgrave Place, London, on 19 May 1843.
- Published
- London: John Murray, 1870.
- Plates
- 14
- Binding/Size
- S=8vo
- Value
- 0-5000
- Published
- London: John Murray, 1870.
- Ref
- 558
Octavo. Contemporary full red calf; green morocco title label to spine; titles and decoration to spine; gilt twin gilt rule to boards; inner dentelles gilt; marbled endpapers; top edge gilt. A later card slipcase with a Christmas card depicts Alken's painting 'The Meet Outside the Fox and Grapes.' Frontispiece portrait engraved title page; 9 black and white vignettes and 14 full-page hand-coloured plates. Traces of bookplate to front pastedown; light rubbing to board edges and spine ends. A lovely book. New Edition. MS notation in pencil reads "NIMROD" Pen name of Charles Apperley - gentleman, scholar, sportsman. "Financial difficulties led him to exchange the whip for the pen, and he became famous for his sporting letters in the 'Sporting Magazine.'" (Newton) Coloured plates in order: 1. Ashby Pasture in the Quorn Country. - Snob just arrived. 2. " 'Going along,' roars Mr. Holyoake. - Snob takes the lead." 3. A Queerish Place. 4. A Stopper. 5. "The little bay horse will have no more." 6.."Seven out of thirteen take it in their stride; three stop short, - and three find themselves in the middle of it." 7. "Osbaldeston's 'Who-hoop!' might have been heard at Cottesmore." 8. The Warren. - Preparing to start. 9. Getting Well Off. "They are off again - a beautiful start and a still more beautiful sight." 10. Tattenham Corner. " 'I think I can win,' says Robinson to himself." 11. The Race, Epsom. "It is a terrible race. - There are seven in front within the distance, and nothing else has a chance to win." 12. "It's the COMET, and you must be quick as lightning." 13. The REGULATOR on Hartford Bridge Flat. 14. "Stop, coachman - I have lost my hat and wig!"
