A General System of Horsemanship in all its branches:

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1743, 2 vols, 62 plates - complete, 1st English edition of the Duke of Newcastle's celebrated work on the training of horses. Two volumes in contemporary speckled calf, gilt edge & corner tooling, some wear to corners & edges. Spines, raised bands, worn gilt tooling, gilt titles to calf labels, edges worn, some loss. Internally, Vol 1, additional double page engraved title (French 1658), half title, [6], (v-viii), [1], 142 pp, [4] index, 42 pls (double page), 6 pls (as header), 41 illustrations within text, 5 Decorative initial letters, (Signatures [2] ff, a-a3, C-Mm1, Gg1-2 additions). Vol 2, [1] title leaf, 3-4, [2] contents, [1], 2-4, [1] ff pl list, [1], 6-36, 33-138 pp, [14] dictionary, 20 pls, (includes 2 double page, some printed in sepia, 8 trimmed and mounted to 8 leaves), 2 pls as headers, 3 footers. (Signatures: [2], a-a2, B-B2, [1] pl list, B-Nn1, Aaa-Ddd1). Text & plates within double ruled red lines, text block edges marbled blue, early ink note to V1, fpd. (503*333 cms), (ESTC T154435; Brunet 1:700. Mellon; Books on the Horse 49; Nissen ZB1 849; Mennessier de la Lance II:250). WorldCat appears to show 4 copies in UK institutions and 6 in the US. The Duke of Newcastle's equestrian skills were renowned, and his riding school at Antwerp attracted students from across Europe. Newcastle's work first appeared in French in 1658, lavishly illustrated with engravings after A. de Diepenbeke. The engravings in the present edition are printed from the same original copperplates, acquired by Brindley for his 1737 French edition. The plates in volume I include five equestrian portraits (4 of the Duke), five plates of various horses owned by the Duke, two charming scenes of mares and foals, two plates of bits, saddles and other equipment, 24 scenes showing horses being trained (most featuring the Duke, Captain Mazin and, occasionally, a groom named Palfrenier). The plates end with a multiple portrait of the Duke, his wife, his children and grandchildren.