The Fowler in Ireland, Or Notes on the Haunts and Habits of Wildfowl and Seafowl Including Instructions in the Art of Shooting and Capturing them

London: John Van Voorst, 1882. First edition. Cloth. Good. 9" by 6". Not Stated. An informative and illustrated first edition instructional guide to the art of wildfowl hunting in Ireland. The first edition of this study of the art of hunting wildfowl in Ireland, complete with an instructional account of how to shoot and capture these birds. This is the work of English engineer, historian and ballistics expert Sir Ralph Frankland-Payne-Gallwey, author of a number of books on military and sporting history, theory and practice.With numerous full plate and vignette illustrationsTo the rear of the work is a fourteen page 'Wildfowl Record', which instructs the reader of this guide to fill in their 'List of Birds Killed', including information such as location, date, and weapon and ammunition used. From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty of the Edwardian period. Impeccably connected, Pleydell-Bouverie was also the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, and rumoured to be a lover of King Edward VIII. A sparkling figure of fashionable society, her friends included Nancy Mitford, Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, and Fred Astaire. This work is from the sale of Pleydell-Bouverie"s library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. She purchased the home in 1940, redesigning the interior and amassing an impressive library, featuring many examples of her own bookbinding.With the contemporary owner's inscription 'Sydney Hulke, 1889' to the half title. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to spine head and tail and extremities. Small split to cloth at tail of front joint. Front and rear hinges starting, with boards holding firm. Newspaper clippings to front pastedown. Tears to front and rear free endpapers. Internally, firmly bound. Pages generally clean and bright, with the odd neat pencil notation. Good