Parkyns, Thomas | A charming copy one of the earliest writings on English wrestling

Parkyns, Thomas 

The Inn-Play: or, Cornish-Hugg Wrestler. London: For Thomas Weeks by Humphrey Wainwright, 1727 

4to (190 x 144 mm). Woodcuts, headpieces, tailpieces, initials, and vignettes, one handcolored folding plate inserted on tab with near contemporary manuscript caption; early manuscript annotations, some foxing, old folds. Half red calf and cloth covered boards, spine with raised bands and six compartments, second gilt lettered, others with repeat gilt floral motif; corners bumped and light rubbing to extremities with loss, some staining and soiling, upper joint starting, splitting to head of the spine, newspaper clipping from 1822 pasted onto endleaf, some early annotations to endleaves. 

One of the earliest works on English wrestling. The text, particularly the third edition, is still used to teach historical practices in the sport.

PROVENANCE

James Barclay (signatures and initials to title and lower endleaves)