STEVENSON, Matthew (d. 1684). The Twelve Moneths Or A pleasant and profitable discourse of every action, whether of Labour or Recreation, proper to each Moneth ... As also of Recreations, as Hunting, Hawking, Fishing, Fowling, Coursing, Cockfighting....

STEVENSON, Matthew (d. 1684). The Twelve Moneths Or A pleasant and profitable discourse of every action, whether of Labour or Recreation, proper to each Moneth ... As also of Recreations, as Hunting, Hawking, Fishing, Fowling, Coursing, Cockfighting. London: M. S[immons] for Thomas Jenner, 1661.

The Gloucester copy of the first and only edition. The poet Matthew Stevenson was born in Yorkshire, but spent most of his life in Norfolk, although he is also known to have frequented post-Restoration circles of cavalier wits in London. The Twelve Moneths is a compendium of folklore and oral tradition which describes the characteristics and recreations of each month and the details of its principal fairs, followed by an epigram epitomising the month, with each illustrated by an engraving depicting its pastimes and occupations, the zodiac sign and number of days. ESTC records only 12 copies in institutions. Harting 32; MacDonald p. 204; Mullens and Swann p. 562; Schwerdt II, p. 225; Westwood and Satchell p. 202; Wing S-5510.

Quarto (178 x 128mm). 11 full-page engraved illustrations and one engraved plate (occasional light marking, some leaves trimmed at head or foot affecting page-number or catchword.) Modern panelled calf, 19th-century lettering pieces laid on. Provenance: occasional corrections to the text by an early hand – The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974; bookplate, sale at Christie’s, London in 2006, lot 551).

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