The Chase; A Poem, William Somervile — 2nd Edition

£225.00

The Chase; A Poem, William Somervile — 2nd Edition

Name: The Chase; A Poem, William Somervile — 2nd Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6091
Price: 225.00 GBP
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Publication: London, Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. at the Shakspeare Printing Office, 1802

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xxiv, 105, [1].

Condition Report: Very Good. The binding remains tight and structurally sound, with secure joints and firm hinges. The half red calf leather exhibits minor shelf wear and light rubbing, predominantly to the extremities, raised bands, and corners, though the thematic gilt tooling to the spine remains notably bright and unoxidised. The cloth-covered boards are well-preserved with only faint signs of handling. The top edge gilt retains its lustre, while the remaining untrimmed edges show natural age-toning. Internally, the text block is pleasingly crisp; there is some scattered spotting and browning, most evident on the title page and preliminary leaves, but the internal pages are otherwise clean and free from intrusive marks or tears.

Catalogue Note: This is the second Bulmer edition of Somervile’s celebrated sporting poem, following the quarto first edition of 1796.

The work is notably enhanced by a title-page vignette and twelve superb woodcut engravings executed by Thomas Bewick, based on original designs by his younger brother, John Bewick. This edition stands as a handsome example of the fine typography produced at William Bulmer’s highly regarded Shakspeare Printing Office.

The volume is bound in an attractive later half red calf over cloth boards, featuring a thematic, gilt-tooled spine adorned with a falcon and a hunting horn enclosing a hound's head.

Copies of this 1802 octavo edition, particularly those in appealing fine bindings with sporting motifs, have become increasingly scarce on the open market and remain highly desirable among collectors of both Bewick's engravings and antiquarian sporting literature.

First published in 1735, The Chase is an enduring masterpiece of 18th-century sporting literature. Written in Miltonic blank verse by the Warwickshire country gentleman William Somervile, the poem vividly captures the thrill, tradition, and camaraderie of the hunt. Drawing on the author’s own extensive experience, the work explores the breeding and training of hounds, the nuances of various hunting disciplines, and the breathtaking excitement of the chase itself. It remains a foundational text for enthusiasts of rural field sports and classic British poetry alike.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: William Somervile

Book Publisher: W. Bulmer and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: Second Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 130

Book Publication Year: 1802

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Half Calf

Illustrator: Thomas Bewick and John Bewick

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.