22 Fancy Pigeons. 



suppose, with the exception of the reprint o£ "Moore's Colnmbariuin." 

 The American fanciers have several periodicals that treat of pigeons and 

 other pet stock, which are generally very well got up as regards paper 

 and printing, but I have not found, and I can scarcely yet expect to find, 

 in them much original matter on the subject of fancy pigeons. In their 

 illustrations of both poultry and pigeons the influence of Mr. Ludlow, of 

 Birmingham, is very plainly seen. I have no doubt that by and bye the 

 American fanciera will make their mark in the breeding of fancy 

 pigeons, as they have not grudged to expend large sums in the purchase 

 of good stock. 



In conclusion I may say that the author's edition of the '* Treatise on the 

 Almond Tambler," 1S02, was priced on the title page " seven shillings," 

 and that tliis is generally altered with pen and ink to " five shillings." 

 The remainders were bought by A. Hogg and Co., who printed a new 

 title page for them, on which was printed " price 4s., in extra boards." 



Mr. Wolstenholme, the artist, who is now over eighty years of age, 

 wrote to me lately saying, that the set of six p)ates of the pouter, 

 carrier, &c., were first published by himself, for his own account, in 

 183-1. He sold the plates to Eaton, who republished them with his 

 " Treatise on Pigeons," in 1S52. Mr. Wolstenholme wrote me in June, 

 1875, " I was the inventor of surface printing in colours in the year 1847, 

 but was not able to patent it. The prints were exliibited in the Great 

 Exhibition of 1851 as a new mode of printing. From them all the colour 

 printing of the present day comes, from which many have made large 

 fortunes." 



Por many years I have endeavoured to obtain a copy Moore's "Colum- 

 barium," and, in searching for it, I have written hundreds of letters and 

 spent many days wandering over London enquiring for it. After correct^ 

 ing these pages I am happy to be able to add that on the 5th November, 

 1879, I obtained an original and perfect copy of this rare book, so 

 precious to a pigeon fancier. There are now, therefore, two copies of 

 the "Columbarium" outside of the British Museum, Mr. Esquilant's 

 and mine. 



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