Very scarce and extremely collectible large volume in a very special and beautiful leather cover. The Gentleman’s Recreation was published for royalty and men of means just after the end of the 17th century. Similar to an atlas, it was found only in stately homes and manors whose owners could afford it. Three volumes in one, this beautifully illustrated book covers just about everything an English man of the world would need to know, along with wonderful, fine engravings by the author, Richard Blome. This scarce second edition (first and second are equally scarce) is divided into three parts: Book One covers the Liberal Arts, Logic, the Sciences, Mathematics, Navigation, Architecture, Fortifications, War, Musick, History, Opticks, Sculpture, Painting, Heraldry and more. Book Two covers Horsemanship, Hawking, Hunting, Fowling, Fishing, Agriculture and Cock Fighting. Book Three is titled, “A Compleat Body of all our Forest, Chace and Game Laws, &c.” What makes this book special are the 80 fine, full-page engravings throughout, including a small world view on one engraving depicting California as an island. Blome solicited sponsors by dedicating these special engraved pages in their names. (It most likely helped pay for the publishing costs). These royal personages are listed toward the front of the volume. Each section is introduced by a wonderful graphic explaining that section’s subject. What is even more spectacular are the engravings dealing with Hunting, Fishing, Hawking and the like. These are highly detailed works of art by Blome, who was a master artist. The book was rebound c1910 in a very tasteful and beautiful decorative leather binding. The binding is in excellent condition, with just a pair of scratches in the upper left corner of the rear cover and a tiny scuff here and there. This is a binding of the highest quality, meant to last for many years and to stand out on the home library shelf. It was executed by John F. Grabau, who was a bookbinder at Roycroft in Buffalo, New York from 1902-1905. Roycroft was known for some of the finest hand tooled gilt bindings in America, but this was done sometime after that period, when Grabau was on his own. A small number of pages (less than ten) have had some repairs made in the past, including a new backing to the final page. The book is complete. It is the size of an atlas, being 10.25 x 16.25 and a full 2.5 inches thick. The paper is of a high rag content, meant to hold up for hundreds of years. This superb example is being offered with a very fair reserve, especially when you consider a first or second edition in any condition is usually priced near the $10,000 mark or more. 743 pp. in three sections plus 80 engraved pp.

Reserve: $5,750.00

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Very good plus