A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a precious visual instance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative text

A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons

₩3,058,000 KRW
₩3,058,000 KRW
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A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a precious visual instance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative text
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  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a precious visual instance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative text
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a distinguished excerpt from the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a delicate visual nuance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative text
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a remarkable illustrative passage from the 1765 illustrated & decorative copy
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a scarce illustrative detail of the 1765 illustrated & decorative work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a remarkable illustrative passage from the 1765 illustrated & decorative exemplar
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): an uncommon representative view of the 1765 illustrated & decorative treatise
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): an exquisite selection from the 1765 illustrated & decorative publication
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a rare surviving image of the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a rare glimpse into the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a delicate visual nuance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a precious visual instance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative edition
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a singularly preserved detail from the 1765 illustrated & decorative exemplar
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a noteworthy detail captured from the 1765 illustrated & decorative exemplar
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): an uncommon visual fragment of the 1765 illustrated & decorative publication
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a precious visual instance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative text
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a distinguished excerpt from the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a delicate visual nuance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative text
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a remarkable illustrative passage from the 1765 illustrated & decorative copy
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a scarce illustrative detail of the 1765 illustrated & decorative work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a remarkable illustrative passage from the 1765 illustrated & decorative exemplar
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): an uncommon representative view of the 1765 illustrated & decorative treatise
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): an exquisite selection from the 1765 illustrated & decorative publication
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a rare surviving image of the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a rare glimpse into the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a delicate visual nuance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative printed work
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a precious visual instance of the 1765 illustrated & decorative edition
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a singularly preserved detail from the 1765 illustrated & decorative exemplar
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): a noteworthy detail captured from the 1765 illustrated & decorative exemplar
  • A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons by (Moore, J.): an uncommon visual fragment of the 1765 illustrated & decorative publication
A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons

The first English pigeon book: breeding, breeds, frauds, and 13 plates.

(Moore, J.)

A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons
Comprehending all the different species known in England (...); with the Method of Building and Furnishing a Lost, Area, Trap (...). The Generation of Pigeons (...) and Progress of the Egg. (...) Remarks on their Diet (...) . The fraudulent Methods (...).

1765, London, C. Barry

First Edition, Second Issue

₩3,058,000 KRW
₩3,058,000 KRW

Overview

First edition, second issue of this Treatise, which stands as the first English book devoted to pigeons, and as a work of marked rarity. In late 18th cent England dovecots were extremely trending among affluent property owners and belonged to a wider culture of improvement, breeding, and close practical observation of domestic animals. This volume presents a comprehensive manual on pigeon breeding and care, gathering all known English varieties and weighing their respective qualities with the method of an experienced fancier. The book explains the construction and management of housing - lofts, traps, and related arrangements - together with breeding methods used by expert breeders. It also treats the biology of pigeons, including the development of the egg, and extends its instruction to diet, common diseases and their treatment, and fraudulent practices in the pigeon trade. Intended alike for experienced breeders and beginners, the work joins practical guidance to a broader natural-historical curiosity, while its illustrations, drawn from life, render the birds in a vivid manner and with accurate detail. This copy also carries an interesting provenance, described below.

Inside the book

John Moore (d. 1737) privately printed this work with the title Columbarium in 1735 in a very small batch. It was later published in 1765 under the title A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons in an edition of only 750 copies (to which the current one belongs). This second printing was published anonymously by a practical pigeon fancier. However, it is an exact reproduction of Moore's Columbarium of 1735 with a longer title and the addition of the engraved plates. According to the vulgata, the present volume is considered the second issue of the first edition by Moore, but some scholars disagree, preferring to attribute the volume to an unknown author. The book is an extensive treatise on pigeons that surveys the breeds found in England, outlining their defining traits and standards of quality. It provides practical instruction on constructing and equipping lofts, selecting and breeding desirable birds, and managing their feeding and health, including remedies for common illnesses. The work also examines reproduction and egg formation, warns against deceptive sales practices, and was designed for both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers. A detailed account of the prized Almond Tumbler gives particular prominence to one of the most admired varieties of the period. It is supported by 13 detailed, life-based etchings representing different pigeon breeds in a vivid and engaging manner, as well as 1 dynamic illustration of a dovecot with a mouse and a cat (facing the title page). It also includes digressions on folklore that reflect the cultural limitations of the period, such as on pp. 140–141, where the Prophet Muhammad is described as having trained pigeons to appear to whisper divine revelations in his ear. The volume contains two ex libris, the first of which offers notable provenance, indicating ownership by Robert D'Arcy (or Darcy. 4th Earl of Holderness (1718-1778), British diplomat and politician, who served in Venice and the Hague, on top of several roles in England under King George II and III. Given his life dates, he was most likely the first owner of the book. Notably, during the remodeling of his property Arbour Hill farm in 1760, a dovecot was added to provide fresh eggs and meat, as per the trends of the period. Curiously, he collaborated with the musician Handel in the production of the opera Deidamia. No relevant info has been traced about the second, modern exlibris.

Why La Fenice chose it

Pigeons step boldly into 18th-century England with wit and swagger, at last receiving the attention their curious intelligence deserves. This rare first English treatise - here in its first edition - pairs lively, life-based etchings of breeds with a playful dovecot scene (cat and mouse included). Its aristocratic provenance becomes an additional quiet delight, gently enchanting the reader (and the fortunate collector) appreciating the charm and dignity of these curious birds.
Condition Report

Pp. [2], [1] illustration, xvi, 144, [2], [13] plates

Contemporary full leather binding with some peeling and 5 raised bands on the spine; gilt greatly faded; red spines. Back cover joint with slight damage; front cover joint splitting, but sound, despite a slight detachment at the bottom of the first pages (see images). First free endpaper detached. Exlibris inside the cover of Robert D'Arcy, Earl of Holdernesse, with the coat of arms of the House of D'Arcy. Second modern exlibris on the first free endpaper with an image of a bird and the name Erich Horstkötter. Ink stain to the outer margin of the first plate and title page. Some woodcut ornaments and tailpieces. 13 refined etchings depict different pigeon breeds in a vivid and engaging manner. Despite the binding defects, a beautiful, rare copy with interesting provenance.

Dimensions (inches): 8.5 x 6 x 1
About the author

John Moore (d. 1737), English pigeon fancier and author associated with Columbarium.
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