8vo. [2], 56pp. With original burgundy front wrapper bound in. Finely bound by Zaehnsdorf (stamp-signed to verso of FFEP) in later gilt-tooled, blind-ruled red half-calf, contrasting burgundy morocco lettering-pieces to spine. Marbled endpapers, T.E.G. Lightly rubbed and marked. Armorial bookplate of Douglas Peter Crossman to FEP. Inked ownership inscription to verso of original front wrapper, reading 'William Goodall, May 20th, 1856. Given to him by George Race, 'Son' of the 'Author'. Leaves lightly browned, light spotting to title.

The sole edition of an apparently unrecorded epistolary 'autobiography' of a fox-hound, with authorship attributed solely to the hound himself, Thistlewhipper, who has allegedly dictated each of the letters to the Sporting-Magazine found within.

The curious inscription to the verso of the original wrapper may illuminate the short volume's origins a little. We can establish that this volume was presented to William Goodall, premier huntsman in the nineteenth century, and trainer to the Duke of Rutland’s Belvoir foxhounds; his prowess and technique is acclaimed in The Late Lord Henry Bentinck on Foxhounds: Goodall’s Practice (c. 1900), published by said friend and hunting companion after Goodall's death. It seems to have been gifted to him by George Race of Road Farm, Biggleswade (1818-1911), master of the Biggleswade Harriers, and huntsman of seventy years. The tongue-in-cheek inscription, describing him as the 'Son' of the 'Author' - in this case, Thistlewhipper the fox - could potentially be pointing towards Race's authorship.