Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
93
George Stubbs on the anatomy of the horse
STUBBS, GEORGE
The Anatomy of the Horse. London: J. Purser, 1766. First edition, later issue with the plates on unwatermarked wove paper, apparently undated but likely 1780s or 1790s (text on van Gelder). Three-quarter morocco, cloth sides. 21 1/2 x 16 5/8 inches (54.5 x 42 cm); [4], 48 pp., with 24 plates drawn and engraved by George Stubbs of equine anatomy. The binding rather worn, front free endpaper creased, long repaired tear on one text page, one plate with a marginal tear, variable scattered pale foxing and offsetting to the plates throughout; still a sound copy. The errata leaf, often lacking, is not present.
Stubbs, unsuccessful in his search for an engraver for these studies, which were drawn between 1756 and 1759, undertook the work himself, with great success. In the process, he reinvented himself as the foremost animal painter of the period, and the book became the leading reference on the anatomy of the horse for a century or more. Garrison and Morton 308.1; Mellon Books on the Horse and Horsemanship 57; Nissen ZBI 4027; Norman 2032,
Sold for $3,840
Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
STUBBS, GEORGE
The Anatomy of the Horse. London: J. Purser, 1766. First edition, later issue with the plates on unwatermarked wove paper, apparently undated but likely 1780s or 1790s (text on van Gelder). Three-quarter morocco, cloth sides. 21 1/2 x 16 5/8 inches (54.5 x 42 cm); [4], 48 pp., with 24 plates drawn and engraved by George Stubbs of equine anatomy. The binding rather worn, front free endpaper creased, long repaired tear on one text page, one plate with a marginal tear, variable scattered pale foxing and offsetting to the plates throughout; still a sound copy. The errata leaf, often lacking, is not present.
Stubbs, unsuccessful in his search for an engraver for these studies, which were drawn between 1756 and 1759, undertook the work himself, with great success. In the process, he reinvented himself as the foremost animal painter of the period, and the book became the leading reference on the anatomy of the horse for a century or more. Garrison and Morton 308.1; Mellon Books on the Horse and Horsemanship 57; Nissen ZBI 4027; Norman 2032,
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
