The Annals of Sporting and Fancy Gazette (Complete set of 13 volumes)

London: Volumes 1-6: Sherwood, Neely and Jones. Volume 7 llklllll.lzz to 13: Sherwood & Co, 1828. 1st Edition. Full Morocco. Very Good. Alken, Henry, Samuel Alken, Michael Egerton, John Frederick Herring, Edwin Landseer, Robert Cruikshank, etc.. A complete set with all thirteen volumes and 78 issues of this iconic sporting publication with artwork by some of the most famous book illustrators and sporting artists of the day. Included, in other words, is the often missing June 1828, final issue of the magazine, and we also have the fairly scarce errata leaf in the second volume which lists corrections for the first two volumes Also all half-titles (truncated) present. 8vo. 22 by 14 cm. 155 illustrated plates, including 50 hand-colored plates by Henry Alken, Robert Cruikshank, Michael Egerton, John Frederick Herring, Edwin Landseer most notably and others. Many additional woodcut illustrations -- over 200, throughout text. Volumes 5 through 13 also contain Turf Herald bound in at rear of the volumes. The June 1828 issue, or the 13th volume, usually lacking and considered by Tooley to be "extremely rare". Tooley 64. Full title of magazine gives idea of range of topics covered, or "A Magazine, entirely appropriated to sporting subjects and fancy pursuits; containing every thing worthy of remark on hunting, shooting, coursing, racing, fishing, cocking, pugilism, wrestling, singlestick, pedestrianism, cricket, billiards, rowing, sailing, etc. etc. Accompanied with striking representations of the various subjects" All edges gilt. Bound by Zaehnesdorf in full red crushed morocco, with gilt decoration -- ruled borders, turn-ins, raised bands, etc. The binding was a quintessential Edwardian period style, elegant and well-executed, hasn't lost all of its beauty, but it is the loci of issues presented by this particular set. All the spines are darkened and somewhat dry, while the boards have kept their original freshness and lustre. Joints generally are rubbed, and volumes 1 has a detached front board, with some fragility to the boards of the second and third volume, and perhaps with one or two other boards, although in none of these boards is their an actual tear or space between spine and board -- rather, the wear is somewhat even along the joints but there is a thinness to the surviving leather along the joint line. Within the volumes, there is a moderate amount of foxing and other soiling, sometimes on the heavier side, and more prevalent in the earlier volumes. That said, most pages are on the clean side. All text blocks remain solid. Overall, this is an attractive set, even with its undeniable imperfections. (Inventory #: 20363)