signed by the author

The signed limited edition of William Robinson Brown's The Horse of the Desert, a comprehensive account of the Arabian horse describing its habitat, origin and history, anatomical, physical and mental qualities, blood lines and military usefulness.

With illustrious provenance for Henry Vivian Musgrave Clark (1885-1981) of Sutton House, Ilford, a founding member of the Arab Horse Society, who established the Courthouse stud farm in 1910, sourcing his stock from Crabbet Park. Musgrave is named in Brown's book as one of the principal breeders of the Society who 'usually have a few good horses for sale' (p.169).

Edition deluxe, number 23 of 75 copies signed by the author; 4to (32.5 x 25.5 cm); colour frontispiece after Harrington Bird and three other colour plates, 46 half-tone plates, numerous illustrations in text, bookplate to front pastedown, dated ownership inscription to fly-leaf, pp30-32 with marginal annotations in blue crayon, occasional minor spotting; publisher's blue morocco gilt, gilt spine in 6 compartments, top-edge gilt, others uncut, spine slightly darkened, a few marks to boards, minor wear; xxvii, [3], 218pp.