ALKEN, Henry

Easter Monday

London: S. & J. Fuller, 1817. Item #06231

Henry Alken's Easter Monday

[ALKEN, Henry]. Easter Monday. By Ben Tally Ho. London: S. & J. Fuller, April 7, 1817.

First edition. Oblong folio (16 3/4 x 22 1/2 inches; 425 x 571 mm). Comprising a printed title and two hand-colored engraved plates depicting lively sporting scenes. Plate impressions measure approx. 14 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches (362 x 476 mm). Printed title and plates window-mounted on white board.

Bound ca. 1940 in half green morocco over green cloth boards, decoratively ruled in gilt. Front cover with large rectangular dark green morocco panel, decoratively bordered and titled in gilt, spine with five raised bands, gilt ruled and lettered in compartments.

The plates are titled:

Easter Monday. A View near Epping, The Heroes of the day, Men of determined Courage, Riding Hard – up to the Hounds.

Easter Monday. A View [near] Windsor, Gentlemen Sportsmen endeavouring to lead the field.

Both plates bear the publication line: London, Published April 7, 1817 by S. & J. Fuller, 34 Rathbone Place.

The phrase "Easter Monday" refers to the day the prints were released - April 17th, 1817 was indeed Easter Monday. The two hunting plates show where the activities took place. refers to a pair of hand-colored lithographs, from the early 19th century, depicting scenes of hunting or sporting activities near Windsor and Epping. refers to the day the prints were released or perhaps the specific time of year the depicted hunting activities took place.

The first lithograph "A View Near Epping, the heroes of the day, identifies Men of determined Courage i awful trouble. The second lithograph, A View [near] Windsor, Gentlemen Sportsmen endeavouring to lead the field" identifies the location and the main subject of the image: a group of gentlemen attempting to be at the forefront of the hunting party near Windsor.

Henry Alken (1785-1851). "It is thought that he worked anonymously, under the pseudonym "Ben Tall Ho" until 1816; so he did usually, but not invariably, if we can rely on publishers' dates… it was as Ben Tally Ho that he made his first real hits, causing no end of interest among sportsmen and the general public." (Walter Shaw Sparrow. Henry Alken. p. 8).

Price: $2,000.00