Analysis of the Hunting Field, The

London: Published by Rudolph Ackermann, 1846. It was, perhaps, the best hunting season of modern times" (Preface)

[ALKEN, Henry, illustrator]. [SURTEES, Robert Smith]. The Analysis of the Hunting Field, Being a Series of Sketches of the Principal Characters That Compose One. The Whole Forming a Slight Souvenir of the Season 1845-6. With Numerous Illustrations, by H. Alken. London: Published by Rudolph Ackermann, 1846.

First edition, mixed issue, with the earliest state of plates 4 & 5 (dated Nov. 9th) but with the Preface dated 1847.

Large octavo (9 3/4 x 6 inches; 246 x 152 mm). [8], 326, [4, publisher's catalogue] pp. Seven hand-colored aquatint plates by J. Harris after H. Alken, including frontispiece and pictorial title, forty-three woodcuts. Some light, mainly marginal spotting throughout.

Publisher's green ribbed cloth, covers decoratively bordered in blind, front cover pictorially stamped in gilt, rear cover similarly stamped in blind, spine decoratively stamped in gilt, yellow coated endpapers, all edges gilt. Top of spine and inner hinges repaired, lower joint worn, spine sunned. Engraved 'sporting' bookplate of Van Santvoord Merle-Smith on front paste-down. A good copy.

"This work first appeared in Bell's Life and the first edition in book form... at 31s. 6d... There are two issues. First issue in green cloth with both titles and the preface dated 1846. Second issue in red cloth, with the preface dated occasionally 1846 but usually 1847... There are early states of some of the plates with imprint dated Nov. 9th not Nov. 19th" (Tooley).

The Plates:

1. Frontispiece - The Meet.
2. Engraved title.
3. Getting Away.
4. Full Cry.
5. The Check.
6. The Leap.
7. Whoo-hoo-o-o-p.

Robert Smith Surtees (1805-1864) was an English editor, novelist and sporting writer. Thackeray envied him his powers of observation, while William Morris considered him 'a master of life' and ranked him with Dickens. In The Analysis of the Hunting Field, Surtees offers wry, fatherly advice in this satiric romp through the key archetypes of the fox hunt. As Lord Denham says in his introduction, "this should be required reading for anyone connected with hunting. From the right sort of Master to the wrong sort, from the hunting nobleman to the whip and from the blacksmith to the braggart with horses to sell we find the people 'pon the ‘orses are much the same as today."

"More people are flattered into virtue than were ever bullied out of vice" (Surtees, Analysis of the Hunting Field).

Bobins IV, 1320; Podeschi 177; Schwerdt II p.232; Siltzer, p. 73; Tooley 470.