[Foredge painting] Songs of the Chace: containing an extensive collection relative to the Sports of the Field

Thomas GOSDEN (1780-1840, editor and binder).

Songs of the Chace: containing an extensive collection relative to the Sports of the Field. London: 1811. Octavo ( 4 x 6.5 in; 10 x 16.5 cm). Engraved frontispiece by John Scott of a hunter (said to be Gosden) with his dogs, engraved title. Condition of contents: ???. Spectacular contemporary sage green morocco binding by Gosden, elaborately tooled in gilt and blind with embelmatic sporting motifs, gilt edges, with a fine concealed foredge painting of a hunter on horseback with his dog. Condition of binding: neat restoration to head and foot of spine, gilding a trifle rubbed. Provenance: Charles Walker Andrews (1861-1946, bookplate)

Born in 1780, Thomas Gosden worked as a binder from about 1805 to 1838, successively at 107 St. Martin’s Lane, 18 Bedford Street, Covent Garden and 1 New Inn Buildings, Wych Street. He was also a keen sportsman, an antiquary, engraver, painter in water-colours, writer of occasional verse, and a print and bookseller. Despite his many talents he died bankrupt about 1840.

For the story of this important bindings's recent rescue see, https://bookbinding.com/restoration/