Wincenty Pol - Rok mysliwca / The Hunter’s Year (1870) – a poetic tribute to nature and hunting tradition

Between poetry and the art of drawing, between the forest and the manor house — Wincenty Pol and Juliusz Kossak created a work that smells of resin, horse sweat, and old paper. One of the most beautiful pre-war hunting books — a rare gem that still stirs the heart of every collector.

Section “The Best of the Best” – the true crème de la crème of the antiquarian book world.
Here we showcase truly exceptional works – extremely rare, collectible, and often unavailable to the public – genuine white ravens of book art.

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With years of experience in the antiquarian market, Antykwariat Sobieski specializes in sourcing the rarest Polish prints and valuable editions.
Below we present another outstanding piece, recommended for the most discerning collections.

Wincenty Pol – Rok Mysliwca/ The Hunter’s Year (1870)

Illustrated by Juliusz Kossak – a rare, collectible 19th-century hunting book.

Among old books, there are titles that combine the beauty of words, the art of illustration, and the scent of true history.
One of them is Rok Myśliwca (The Hunter’s Year) by Wincenty Pol, published in Poznań and Dresden in 1870 by the J.K. Żupański Bookstore.
This unique Polish hunting book, written in prose and verse, depicts the changing seasons, nature, and the traditional customs of Polish hunting life.

The text is enriched with wood engravings by Juliusz Kossak – the legendary Polish painter and illustrator, master of equestrian and historical scenes.
His expressive drawings form a poetic dialogue with Pol’s words, creating a hunter’s diary where the romance of nature meets the traditions of the manor house.

Handcrafted Beauty – an Artisanal Binding

This edition is a true white raven among hunting books.
Its period cloth binding, crafted by Lviv bookbinder A. Getritz, features gilt lettering, marbled edges, and exceptional craftsmanship – a fine example of artistic bookbinding from the 19th century.

At Antykwariat Sobieski, such hand-bound books, whether leather- or cloth-bound, represent our daily passion – the result of traditional craftsmanship restoring old prints to their former glory.

This particular copy carries a noble provenance – it once belonged to the Radziechów Library of the Counts Badeni, one of the most distinguished aristocratic collections of 19th-century Galicia.

For Lovers of Tradition and Bookbinding Art

The Hunter’s Year is much more than a hunting manual. It is a literary monument to Polish hunting culture, filled with the poetry of nature and nostalgia for a bygone world.

Today, such pre-war hunting books, preserved in fine condition, are considered exclusive collector’s editions, perfect for bibliophiles, historians, and art lovers alike.

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In our online antiquarian bookstore, you will find similar hand-bound books, leather-bound editions, hunting memoirs, and Polish antiquarian treasures.
Each copy tells its own story – a fragment of history bound in art.

Antykwariat Sobieski – because history deserves a second life.

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If you’re looking for a unique gift or thinking about investing in rare books and alternative assets, you’ve come to the right place.

At Antykwariat Sobieski, we believe that books are not just words – they are art objects, carrying emotion, history, and lasting value. More and more collectors are discovering that rare books can be as enduring an investment as fine art.

This exceptional edition of Wincenty Pol’s The Hunter’s Year is already available in our collection – a perfect fusion of poetry, tradition, and masterful bookbinding.

And this is only one of many treasures in our catalog – discover more hand-bound books, leather bindings, and white ravens from the 19th and early 20th centuries.