The Lite7'atu7 



in order to supply that defect, we have procured engravings from the 

 best hands, at a very great expense, in order to illustrate this work, all 

 which are done from the life, and very masterly esecuted, under the inspec- 

 tion of the author and other fanciers." It is illustrated with thirteen full 

 page steel or CDpper engravings of pigeons, and a frontispiece representing 

 the loft, matching pen, hopper, water fountain, &c. 



There are two editions of this work, one being on larger and better 

 paper than the other, and having the plates of the almond and black 

 mottled tumblers different. In it the almond has the words " Simpson 

 sculpt." on it, and the mottled " Mayor delint. et sculpt. " below it, so 

 that this Mayor was perhaps the person to whom the book was iEscribed. 

 The author speaks of " a kind of standard, calculated for the better judging 

 of almond tumblers, lately published by some of the admirers of this 

 fancy, elegantly engraved on copper plate, at the top of which is an 

 almond tumbler, very finely executed from life, the outlines being inimi- 

 tably well performed, and by much the best I ever saw, and at so reason- 

 able a price as 6d." A copy of this "standard" is given in Eaton's 

 latest book at page 186. It is entitled " Ordinances, established by 

 the Columbarian Society, at the Globe Tavern, Fleet-street, respecting 

 the perfections and imperfections of Almond or Ermin Tumblers, 1764." 

 The engraving of the almond tumbler on it has " Simpson sculpt " below 

 the bird, and the large paper edition of the treatise of 1765 is, no 

 doubt, illustrated from the same plate. 



The most original part of the " Treatise on Pigeons " of 1765, is 

 the long account of the almond tumbler, a variety no more than men- 

 tioned by Moore, but which had lately risen to great estimation in 

 London. The Mahomet pigeon, which WElughby had described, but 

 which Moore had evidently never seen, is also well described ; but 

 most of the book is, as the author acknowledges in his preface, " on the 

 plan of Mr. Moore." It is not known who the author was, but a corre- 

 spondent has informed me that he had a copy full of manuscript notes 

 that he supposed to be by the author, and that on the title-page, under 

 " Domestic Pigeons," was written " by G. T., private, C. B. F." 



I have had many copies of the commoner edition of this book, but only 

 one on large paper. The value of it depends chiefly on its condition and 

 size of paper, as many copies are very much cut into. A really good 

 clean copy is not dear at a guinea. 



