[WOODWARD, William (1876-1953); and W.S. VOSBURGH (1854-1938), editor]. Cherished Portraits of Thoroughbred Horses, from the collection of William Woodward with Notes by W.S. Vosburgh. New York: Privately Printed [for] Ernest R. Gee [by The Derrydale Press], 1929. Large 4to. (12 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches). [8], 297pp. 68 engraved plates and 3 charts. Includes index. Presentation inscription from Woodward to J.R. Sears on flyleaf. Full red morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, gilt ruled covers with gilt title on front cover, spine in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second, top edge gilt, blue endpapers.

First edition, one of 300 copies, inscribed by Woodward to J.R. Sears.

This was Connett's first major work in fine book production. It was contracted through Ernest Gee, and Mr. Woodward spared no expense ... (Siegel).

William Woodward was an American banker from a prominent family who also became a major owner and breeder in thoroughbred horse racing. He amassed a great collection of paintings related to thoroughbred horses over his lifetime and published this work as a gift to his friends to share his love of horses and horse racing. The author of the accompanying descriptions, Walter Vosburgh, was a turf historian who was the official handicapper for The Jockey Club and various other racing associations from 1894 to 1934.

Woodward recollects in the Foreword: Mr. Walter S. Vosburgh...and I were talking one day of my paintings, and I expressed the wish that he should come to see them. When he came one Sunday afternoon a few years ago, we spent an exceedingly agreeable afternoon together, for Mr. Vosburgh is so full of the lore of the Turf that every picture had its special meaning and every horse its special anecdote...I had asked him if he would write sketches of the principal horses whose portraits I then had. In due course he gave me a series of sketches, written in his own hand and of a delightful nature. With his permission, they accompany the reproductions of the portraits which they supplement..

Podeschi 373; Siegel 22; Frazier V-4-a.