The Gentlemans Academie. Or, The Booke of S. Albans: containing three most exact and excellent bookes: the first of hawking, the second of all the proper termes of hunting, and the last of armorie: all compiled by Iuliana Barnes, in the yere from the incarnation of Chris 1486. And now reduced into a better method, by G. M. [i.e., Gervase Markham].

Small 4to (181 x 126 mm), [4], 95, [1] leaves, 3 parts in one, additional section titles to parts 2 and 3 but with continuous pagination and signatures, lacking the 4 blanks (A1 [bearing signature 'A'], L3-4 and Dd4) but skilfully replaced with near-matching slightly later paper, the first blank with inverted inscription of ëPeter Martin, his book, 1754í at foot of recto, 116 woodcut coats-of-arms, occasional minor spotting and some very trivial pin-prick wormholes to blank marginal extremities, a few scattered blue pencil crosses to margins and a few words similarly underscored on leaves N1-3, small marginal repair not affecting text on Cc1, nineteenth-century diced calf with five raised bands, corners rubbed through to boards, slightly cracked at foot of joints, al edges gilt. A very good copy of Markhamís revised version of Juliana Bernersí Boke of St. Albans (1486), the first printed book in English on hunting, and hawking. The first book addresses falconry and provides remedies for the diseases of hawks; the second examines the hunting of deer, boar and hare and supplies a list of hunting terms; and the third book constitutes a full account of heraldry. In his dedication of this work Gervase Markham writes ìTo the Gentlemen of England: and all the good fellowship of Huntdman and Falconers. Gentlmen, this Booke intreting of Hawking, Hunting and Armorie; the originall copie at Saint Albans, about what time the excellent Arte of Printing was first brought out of Germany, and practised here in England: which Booke, bicause of the antiquitie of the same. I have reuiued and brought again to light the same which was almost altogether forgotten, and either few or none of the perfect copies threof remaining, except in their hands, who wel knowing the excellency of the worke, & the rarenesse of the Booke, smothered the same from the world, thereby to enrich themselves in private with the knowledge of these delights.î Provenance: With the small gilt blue morocco book label of John L. Clawson to front pastedown with small paper book-collecting label pasted beneath and related bookseller's pencil note of sale purchase to front free endpaper verso. Schwerdt II, 12; STC 3314; Harting, 3; Poynter, 30.I; Swift II, 363.OI; Souhart, 49.