Lot 457: DUBOST, Antoine Newmarket. Collection d'onze planches lithographiques, repr

DUBOST, Antoine Newmarket. Collection d'onze planches lithographiques, représentant la vue de Newmarket, et la vie du cheval de course depuis l'instant où il est dans le haras jusqu'à celui de sa vente [...]. A collection of eleven plates, executed in lithography [...]. Paris Chez l'Auteur 1818 Large folio oblong: 11 text ff. and 11 lithogr. (dampstaining on the upper margins, tear in blank margin of text f. 10, overall some min. spotting). Contemp. half cloth with corners over patterned boards, unfresh binding (spine def.). Very nice copy. First edition of Dubost's rare and intriguing series of lithographs of Newmarket. Complete with front. and 10 very early black & white lithographed plates by Dubost after his paintings made at Newmarket in 1809. "Le dessin n'est pas sans mérite, le modèle des chevaux est bien choisi et correctement rendu. Quelques-uns sont irréprochables et on voit que Dubost avait consciencieusement étudié le cheval" (Mennessier de la Lance). The plates are accompanied with a parallel title and text in French and English. It is mentioned on the front. pl. that the work includes portraits of "the most celebrated running horses in 1809" whilst also showing "the life of the race horse from the moment of his entering the stud till that of his being put up to auction". Dubost owned and rode horses in a number of important races himself. As such, he was able to concentrate on both painting and racing of horses. After a period in the French army, Dubost went to England in 1806. There, attracted by the high quality of racing in Newmarket, he painted 12 canvases on which the present print series is based. In 1825 he became involved in a dispute over "un pavillon" with his architect neighbour which culminated in a tragic duel during which both protagonists were killed. Our copy does not include the 2-leaf "Addition" (in French only), probably a separate publication, sometimes found with the work (Mennessier de la Lance). Ref. Dejager 719 (= Podechi 106, Snelgrove 70, Buckley 45). - Mennessier de la Lance I:413. - BnF.