xiv NOTE ON THE ILLT STRATIONS 



accustomed triumphs, above ail in tiie truly wonderful and 

 elaborate frontispiece, which is the most important feature of 

 the work. For the rest it relied for its further appreciation 

 upon the profusion of Aiken's characteristically spirited sketches, 

 engraved upon wood, and interspersed throughout the attractive 

 letterpress. 



The original designs, most elaborately finished in water 

 colours, found their way to the collection of a great Aiken 

 enthusiast, the late Robert Lumley, Esq., and, on that indefatig- 

 able amateur's decease, were dispersed at Christie's with the 

 rest of his extensive collection, including the original water- 

 colour drawings executed for the illustration of " The Life of 

 Jack Mytton." The circumstances wherein the twenty draw- 

 ings were reproduced in facsimile of the original designs for 

 the first time, have been already detailed in the descriptive 

 note which the present writer contributed to the de luxe 

 edition of that remarkable example of sporting biography. 

 These reproductions have secured a high measure of popular 

 appreciation consistent with their \ast artistic merits. 



The truly unique original design in water colours for the 

 frontispiece to " The Analysis of the Hunting Field " was later 

 secured, and nosv forms the leading embellishment of the 

 present edition, successfully reproduced in fac-siinile of the 

 original, together with two elaborate, highly-finished original 

 water-colour drawings of unusually fine quality similarly 

 executed by the artist at the same time. These had been 

 secured at Mr. Lumley's sale together with a series of four 

 characteristic Aiken drawings, also reproduced in fac-similc in 

 the present volume ; thus more fully and adequately illustrating 

 the "Analysis" with thirteen of Henry Aiken's inimitable 

 originals, reproduced throughout in colours \n fac-similc of the 

 aquarelles. It was felt that the " Analysis," w ith all its earlier 

 attractions thus artistically supplemented, would be further 

 esteemed by Aiken collectors, and thus form a worthier 



