An Essay on Archery: by MOSELEY, Walter Michael - 1792 Describing the practice of that art, in all ages and nations.

Worcester: printed by J. and J. Holl and sold by J. Robson London,, 1792. The first standard work on archery to appear since Roger Ascham's Toxophilus Octavo in half-sheets (214 x 131 mm). Contemporary red half straight-grain morocco, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, green marbled boards and endpapers, edges sprinkled green. Engraved frontispiece, additional engraved title page, 4 plates depicting a variety of bows, quivers, and arrowheads. Early gift inscription to front free endpaper verso, "Charlotte Dod with Mrs Shute's affectionate regards", Dod's name inscribed on the engraved title page, and a few neat, intelligent pencil and ink annotations to the text. Extremities a little rubbed with some wear to corners, boards scuffed and faded, contents bright with occasional spotting, plates foxed as typical with some offsetting, overall a very good copy. First edition of this classic work which traces the history of the bow and arrow across several continents. This was the first standard work on archery to appear since Roger Ascham's Toxophilus (1544). It was very popular upon publication, and a contemporary reviewer in the Analytical Review of History and Literature wrote: "without hesitation we promise, not only the lover of archery, but the elegant scholar, and the antiquarian, much entertainment from this elaborate and truly classical performance" (p. 393). Provenance: from the library of the Dod family of Edge Hall, Cheshire. The library was formed largely in the 19th century and comprised a typical country house collection. Charlotte Dod was the eldest daughter of Thomas Crewe Dod (d.1827). See The Analytical Review of History and Literature, Domestic and Foreign. Vol. XII (London, 1792).