Henry Alken & T. Sutherland, \The Racer\ Plate 3 from \The High Mettled Racer,\ 1821 First Edition Aquatint

A first-edition hand-colored aquatint, plate 3 from Henry Alken and Thomas Sutherland's "The High Mettled Racer," published March 1, 1821 by S. & J. Fuller at the Sporting Gallery, 34 Rathbone Place, London. The complete publication line is intact on the print: "H. Alken Delt. — H. Alken & T. Sutherland Sculpt. — London Published March 1 1821 by S. & J. Fuller at their Sporting Gallery, 34 Rathbone Place." The scene depicts three racehorses at full gallop, jockeys whipping toward the finish, the winning post and a crowd of spectators with raised hats at right. "The High Mettled Racer" is a six-plate suite documenting the life of an English racehorse — The Foal, In Training, The Racer, The Hunter, The Post Horse, and The Death — cataloged in Siltzer's standard reference (p. 59). Henry Alken (1785–1851) was the foremost British sporting artist of the early 19th century; T. Sutherland was his premier engraver. Plate 17.5 × 22.25 in. framed.