Mr Sponge's Sporting Tour

First published in 1853, this novel follows Soapey Sponge, a London horse-coper and social parasite, as he works a season through English hunting countries. He travels with two unsound mounts, Hercules and Multum in Parvo, putting up with unsuspecting hosts, talking himself into the field, and selling or swapping horses when the bills close in. Among those he uses are the vain Jawleyford, the rough pugilist Facey Romford, and various masters of hounds. The narrative is a sequence of visits, runs, and inn scenes rather than a single courtship plot. The book is a comic survey of mid-Victorian fox-hunting life seen through a sponger.

Bound in red artificial leather decorated in gold. 15 leaves of colour and monochrome plates. Pale yellow endleaves. Gold slipcase.