Rowland Ward's Records Of Big Game With Their Distribution, Characteristics, Dimensions, Weights And Horn and Tusk Measurements

A signed, early issue of Rowland Ward's important periodical 'Records of Big Game', and one of the last to contain African and Asiatic game. This volume was issued at the peak of hunting before the Second World War and the collapse of colonialism. The ninth issue, signed by the editor J B Burlace to the front endpaper. Dedicated to one of the Brocklehurst family and dated 1928.This edition was edited by J B Burlace and J G Dollman.This issue was one of the last to contain African and Adiatic specimens with other game. In 1935 the tenth volume was issued with only African and Adiatic specimens.Bookplate to the front pastedown, Henry Courtney Brocklehurst. Brocklehurst was an avid hunter himself, and wrote the work 'Game Animals of the Sudan, Their Habits and Distribution'. Courtney Brocklehurst was the brother of explorer Philip Lee Brocklehurst. He was killed in action in Burma during the Second World War.Ward was a British taxidermist and founder of Rowland Ward Limited. He published many big-game hunting narratives and natural history works. This series, 'Records of Big Game' started in 1892 and continued to the twenty-first century.This work contains measurements of game animals worldwide and was the pioneering book of its kind. The first edition of this work was titles 'Horn Measurements and Weights of the Great Game of the World'. In addition to measurements there are anecdotes from hunters and naturalists regarding species, geographical variations, subspecies, weights and measurements.Ward's 'Records' was a valuable resource for hunters as field guides were not usually published. Therefore, this work was the handbook for knowing what mammals could be found worldwide across the Empire.As the series progressed, the 'Big Game Narratives' were also a celebration and who's who of big game hunting. Many notable people entered their trophies to be mentioned such as King George V, Sir Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt. Every specimen in the work has the owner's name listed next to it.A fantastic signed copy of this important game enchiridion. In the publisher's original boards. Externally, sound. Large area of damp staining to the rear board. Several handling marks and some discolouration to the front board and spine. Bookplate to the front pastedown. Editor's dedication to the recto of front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Rear endpaper is damaged due to damp staining. Scattered spotting to the first and last few pages. Good.…