Fine & very rare set of racing prints. Sparrow notes its rarity in 1922, 'rare no doubt, because so many of the copies have been broken up in order that the prints might be sold one by one' (W.S. Sparrow, British Sporting Artists). Thomas Spencer may be regarded as a close follower of his contemporary, James Seymour; in fact, his manner of painting is in some ways more engaging than Seymour's since, despite the sometimes stiff portrayal of grooms and attendants, his horses themselves appear more fluid.

Oblong folio; 34 plates of racehorses engraved by H. Roberts, Parr and Canot after T. Spencer, each portrait surrounded by engraved text, some light surface creasing, contemporary autograph index to front free endpaper, bookplate to front pastedown; contemporary calf-backed boards, rebacked, morocco label to upper cover with gilt lettering, preserved in custom drop-back cloth box, bookplate inside lid.

Bobins 1196; Lane 168; Snelgrove (British sporting and animal prints), pp.157-170; cf. Siltzer 389; not in Schwerdt or Huth.