Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Rawstorne, Lawrence.. Gamonia or, The Art of Preserving Game.. Rudolph Ackermann, 1837.
Price: US$1208.42 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Hardcover in original green leather binding, spine professionally rebacked retaining the original end papers (see pictures), frontispiece has been professionally reattached, previous owners name on front end paper which has been removed, edges rubbed and corners worn, gilt title on spine and framing on boards, all edges gilt, a tight and solid copy in Very Good condition. First edition, pp xiv, 208, 15 hand coloured plates, frontis and plates on pages 179 & 189 are missing tissue guards.
Seller: Deeside Books, Ballater, United Kingdom
Price: US$1272.02 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 15 aquatint plates heightened with gum arabic, complete with tissue guards. Original publisher's green pebbled full morocco binding with bold gilt strapwork design borders on both covers, gilt lettering on spine, all edges gilt. Neat presentation inscription by the author's son, dated 1874. An absolutely fine copy. "An esteemed book. It is really a treatise on forestry, written with a view to laying out plantations in the way most suitable to game preservation. But the highly coloured plates mostly represent shooting scenes. They are unusually attractive, and convey a good impression of the way in which our forebears killed their game, in the beginning of the 19th century. There are several pictures showing a kind of battue, where the sportsmen used two guns and loaders, but the shooting appears to have been very wild." (Schwerdt) Tooley 393; Schwerdt II, p. 127.
Seller: Collinge & Clark, London, United Kingdom
Lawrence Rawstorne. Gamonia or, The Art of Preserving Game. Rudolph Ackermann, London, 1837.
Price: US$1399.23 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A scarce first edition of this noted work on hunting and pheasant rearing. With 15 full colour plates by J T Rawlins depicting hunting scenes and countryside views from around Preston, Lancashire. First edition, complete, with errata slip to the rear. With 7 additional plates tipped in by a previous owner, some relevant and depicting hunting scenes and local topography, others simply attractive illustrations from other works. Gamonia was published privately and gifted to friends by the author and is recognised as the earliest book detailing the rearing of pheasants and the preparing of woodlands specifically for game hunting. Written from the perspective of a true country gentleman, the work is also particularly notable for the depictions of scenes local to Lancashire where Rawstorne lived. A scarce and interesting work much sought after by collectors. In the original green morocco binding with gilt detailing. Externally, sound with rubbing to extremities. Front hinge strained with cords showing. Adhesive damage to rear pastedown and endpaper from bookplates or additional illustrations removed. Internally, binding strained. Additional illustrations tipped in to front pastedown, endpaper and blanks as well as to the verso of the List of Illustrations and the half title to Part 1. Pages generally bright and clean aside from spotting to title page and plates. Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: 208 pp. With fifteen colored engravings after drawings by J. T. Rawlins, "taken on the spot." 8vo, publisher's green gilt morocco; a.e.g.; expertyly rebacked preserving most of the original (sunned) spine. Preserved in a custom quarter morocco slipcase and chemise. First edition. Attractive old bookplates on front endsheet; frontispiece trimmed, removing nearly all of the titling and attached on a stub; a few others of the lovely plates are also on stubs but with the titles preserved; slight uniform age-toning to the title page; otherwise clean and bright. This copy lacks the errata leaf.
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Book. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. 208 pp. Includes errata page. With 15 hand-colored plates, drawings "taken on the spot". Gamonia was intended as a guide or handbook on the maintenance of a hunting preserve, or how best to set up farmland or woodland so as to optimize hunting or shooting potential. Written in a comparatively breezy or conversational style, its words of advice are still appreciated and read -- it remains a valuable reference, a classic on the subject. But without question the work is treasured above all else for its wonderful plates depicting sportsmen of the Regency Era -- plates much reproduced, framed and emulated. The orginal contemporary morocco has attractive border decoration on the boards, the gilding of which remains bright. Some wear to corners, rubbing and wear along edges, but boards are overall well-preserved. Also contemporary spine, with title written across length, but spine has been restored and signs of dryness, cracking and resulting unevenness are readily apparent. Binding is tight. Offsetting, as to be expected, from plates. Pages are generally clean. Some light soilage on endpapers and some plate margins. Pictorials if plates themselves are all bright and crisp. A very good or better copy overall.
Seller: White Fox Rare Books, ABAA/ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. Original publishers olive green pebbled full morocco binding with bold gilt strap-work design borders on both covers, gilt lettering on spine. Half-title, tissue guards (inlcl.frontis.), and errata slip at end, all present. 15 finely hand-colored aquatint plates by J.T.Rawlins heightened with gum arabic. The first treatise devoted primarily pheasant rearing and the management and preservation of woodlands. Light foxing to tissue guards and some text leaves, plates generally clean and bright. [Abbey, Life 392; Tooley 393].
Seller: Nudelman Rare Books, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
Price: US$1908.03 + shipping
Description: First edition, with errata slip to the last printed leaf. Original publisher's full green morocco with gilt decoration and lettering. All edges gilt. A fine copy, the spine slightly faded with a small ink stain to the upper board, but unusually bright and crisp. Internally fresh with the colour plates notably clean and vibrant. Fifteen hand-coloured aquatint plates after J. T. Rawlins. "An esteemed book. It is really a treatise on forestry, written with a view to laying out plantations in the way most suitable to game preservation. But the highly coloured plates mostly represent shooting scenes. They are unusually attractive, and convey a good impression of the way in which our forebears killed their game, in the beginning of the 19th century. There are several pictures showing a kind of battue, where the sportsmen used two guns and loaders, but the shooting appears to have been very wild." (Schwerdt) Tooley 393; Schwerdt II, p. 127
Seller: Jonkers Rare Books, Henley on Thames, OXON, United Kingdom
Price: US$4833.69 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Full morocco, 9 1/2 inches tall. An exceptional copy of this remarkable work in a beautiful binding by the elusive and brilliant Lucien Broca with, most uncommonly, his own stamp. The full morocco binding has gilt raised bands and wonderfully intricate gilt tooling to the panels. Heavily crushed morocco with a surround of fillets and a splendid gilt roll form the doublures, facing watered silk free endpapers. All edges gilt. First edition, with errata slip to the last printed leaf. With 15 absolutely lovely aquatints from drawings by J. T. Rawlins. Gamonia is 'One of the most attractive colour plate books, with the aquatints all beautifully coloured and with the skilled application of gum arabic making them especially bright and sparkling.'- Ford. Eric Parker, in an 1930 edition of this book, notes: "'Gamonia' is valuable not only for its rarity and charm . It was published privately and gifted to friends by the author and is recognised as is the first treatise devoted solely to the subject of pheasant rearing, covert shooting, and the management of woodlands for the special purpose of preserving game . We can see much of what is in Rawstorne's mind in the treatment of the subjects he has chosen for illustration: in the quiet ridicule of the unskilled, in the hint of knowledge of how the thing could and should be done; in the cold and snow in which he likes to set his sportsmen seeking their quarry, and in the serenity of sunlight in which in each drawing stands Penwortham, his home". Lucien Broca was recently revealed by Marrianne Tidcombe to have created the finest bindings attributed to Sarah Prideaux, to her designs and instructions. He was born in France and bound to the highest level in Frith Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Percy Street and Gerrard Street. A superb copy of this fascinating work.
Seller: McConnell Fine Books ABA & ILAB, Deal, KENT, United Kingdom