SQUIRE OSBALDESTON : His Autobiography

This copy is in near fine, unmarked condition, quarter bound in blue cloth, with a paper title label, to marbled paper covered boards. This copy is bright, tight, white and square. There is some typical rubs and bumping to the extremities and there is a small damp stain to the foot of the front panel. Tipped in to the rear gutter is spare paper title label. A dust wrapper is not called for. The top page edges are gilt edged the other edges are uncut. This edition is number 35 of a limited edition of 100 copies printed on Arnold and Foster handmade paper. It contains thirteen extra illustrations not included in the open edition. International postal rates are calculated on a book weighing 1 Kilo, in cases where the book weighs more than 1 Kilo increased postal rates will be quoted, where the book weighs less then postage will be reduced accordingly. This large book weighs in at 2.25 Kgs. George Osbaldeston (26 December 1786 – 1 August 1866), best known as Squire Osbaldeston, was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament but who had his greatest impact as a sportsman and first-class cricketer. From 1809 to 1811 he was lieutenant-colonel of the 5th regiment North Riding local militia. In 1812, under pressure from his mother and the local aristocrat and Whig power-broker William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam, Osbaldeston stood as a Whig parliamentary candidate for East Retford. He won one of the two seats, despite the machinations of his agent, who, claiming he had not been paid his fees, accused his own candidate of electoral malpractice, resulting in a trial. He had little interest in politics, and rarely attended the House. Osbaldeston excelled at sport, and rowed at his various schools, at Oxford and into middle age. He was particularly famous for his racing abilities, in flat, steeplechase, endurance and carriage races. In 1826, he won a celebrated steeplechase for a purse of 1,000 guineas on his horse, Clasher, against Dick Christian riding Clinker, a horse owned by Horatio Ross. On one occasion, in 1831 at Newmarket, he rode 200 miles (320 km) in 8 hours and 42 minutes, using 28 horses. On another occasion he wagered 100 guineas with Paul Methuen that he could drive a stage-coach from St. Paul's churchyard to Greenwich in an hour with a full complement of passengers. Osbaldeston won his bet, although the coach was loaded with a number of hefty Life-Guardsmen and despite being sent back from the bottom of Ludgate Hill for a false start. His last race was at the age of 69, and he also bred racehorses. Ref CCC 3.…