The Gentleman's Recreation: Containing Direct Rules for the Famous Game of Fowling. With Instructions for the taking of all manner of LAND and WATER-FOWL, whether by Fowling-Piece, Net, Engine, or otherways. With a Short Account of Singing-Birds. To which is added An Abstract of all Statute or Penal-Laws relating to that curious Art

[RARE 1677 SPORTING TREATISE - WITH ORIGINAL COPPER FOLD-OUT PLATE] Written by Nicholas Cox (fl. 1673-1731). --- SECTION TITLE: The Gentleman's Recreation: Containing Direct Rules for the Famous Game of Fowling. With Instructions for the taking of all manner of LAND and WATER-FOWL, whether by Fowling-Piece, Net, Engine, or otherways. With a Short Account of Singing-Birds. To which is added An Abstract of all Statute or Penal-Laws relating to that curious Art. The Third Part. --- PUBLICATION & DATE: London: Printed by J.C. and F.C. for N.C. [John Clark & Freeman Collins for Nicholas Cox], undated as issued [1677, Second Edition]. --- COLLATION & TREATISE FORMAT: Octavo (8vo). Complete standalone section focusing entirely on 17th-century fowling, wing-shooting, netting, and songbirds. Paginated pp. 101-187 as issued. Crucially retains the highly fragile, original 1677 copper-engraved fold-out plate at the front illustrating various nets, traps, and bird-catching scenes. --- PROVENANCE: From the celebrated sporting library of the renowned collector Douglas Peter Crossman, boasting his elegant armorial bookplate to the front pastedown. --- BINDING: Beautifully and cleanly bound in a modern, period-style half brown leather over marbled paper boards. The spine features elegant gilt rules and crisp gilt title lettering running vertically. --- CONDITION REPORT: Good to Very Good. The more modern binding is very good+, tight, square, and structurally flawless. Internally, all pages are in very good condition for their age with expected natural toning and occasional foxing to the text block. The scarce fold-out plate is completely intact with a deep, dark impression, showing minor handling wear and missing a small piece from the top outer tip (well away from the main illustration). A wonderful, sharply catalogued survival with elite provenance. …