Les Délices de la Campagne – François Fortin – 1700 | Hunting, Fishing – 66 Engravings

Les Délices de la Campagne by François Fortin is an early hunting and fishing manual compiling techniques used in rural France in the late 17^th-century. It includes bird and animal trapping, crossbow use, falconry, net making, and even tips of manage farm birds. The angling content is of the highest value with descriptions of bait crafting and hook tying.

Most notably, it includes 66 full-page and folding engravings depicting these methods and techniques.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Les délices de la campagne ou les ruses de la chasse et de la pesche : ou l’on voit comment on prend toutes sortes d’oiseaux & de bêtes à quatre pieds. Avec les plus beaux secrets de la pêche; et la manière de faire les rets & les filets
• Author(s): François Fortin
• Illustrator(s): uncredited
• Publisher: Chez George Gallet, A Amsterdam
• Edition: Third Edition, 1700
• Format: (16mo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather, original boards and spine
• Size:  6.5in x 4in (16.5 cm x 10.2 cm)
• Collation: 462 pp
• Illustrations: 66 engravings, some folding
  • All resources note that the complete version of this edition has 66 engraved plates. Even though plate no. 15 (fig. 50-51) from part 3 appears to be lacking, there are no known copies that have more than 66 plates, nor do other examples have said plate. It should be assumed that this example is entirely complete.
• Contents Include:
  • Trapping of birds and animals
  • Crossbow shooting, farming, and falconry
  • Fishing techniques and net making
  • Songs related to hunting

Condition:

Very Good. Bound in original full leather with spine and hinges secure. Text block remains intact throughout. All 66 plates are present; one plate is loose and laid in. Pages clean with minimal wear.

Why Collect This?

• Descriptions of early French methods for hunting, trapping, and fishing
• Includes all 66 engravings; exceedingly rare to find
• Suited for collectors of field sports, rural techniques

Item Number: # 28949