Golf

Small 4to. (3)-137, (5) pp. (without first blank leaf). With 12 numbered plates. Contemporary green cloth with giltstampes spine title; original illustrated wrappers bound at the end of the volume. First edition of this standard work on hawking with the goshawk. Unnumbered copy of a press-run of only 400, signed and inscribed by the author on the half-title: "à ma chère Marguerite Gorrée". - "In this country we use the term falconry in a somewhat wider sense than is the case in France, including thereby every kind of flight with a hawk, whatever may be its species. French falconers apply the term 'fauconnerie' only to flights with the longwinged hawks (Peregrine, Merlin, Hobby, and Jerfalcon), flights with the short-winged Goshawk (autour) and Sparrow-hawk (épervier) coming under the expressive and very convenient term 'autourserie'. To this branch of sport M. Belvallette has devoted an entire volume, albeit a small one, nicely printed, and illustrated with a dozen full-page plates and some pretty text cuts, which, if not always original (we recognise the work of both English and Japanese artists), are appropriate and fairly accurate. M. Belvallette is well known in France as a skilful falconer, and he writes with a thorough knowledge of his subject. On this account his little book commends itself at once as being thoroughly practical" (Harting). - Free endpapers noticeably browned, otherwise very good. Handwritten ownership of Charles Henry Stanley Garton (b. 1920), dated Kingswood, 1942, to front pastedown. Thiebaud 66. Harting 219. Schwerdt I, 59.