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THE MARTIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND HER ALLIES FROM THE YEAR 1799 TO 1815.
(London: Printed for Js. Jenkins . . . by L. Harrison & J. C. Leigh, [1814-15; leaves watermarked 1811]). 414 x 330 mm. (16 1/4 x 14"). viii pp., [1] leaf (contents), [60] leaves of description, iv pp. (list of subscribers). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. ONE OF 100 LARGE PAPER COPIES per Abbey.
REGAL CONTEMPORARY BURGUNDY STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO, LAVISHLY GILT, covers bordered by decorative roll, central panel framed by multiple gilt fillets and palmette roll, royal arms of Great Britain at center, enclosed within a fillet lozenge and octagon, raised bands, spine gilt in compartments, that at head and tail with large ornate fleurons composed of lancet and palmette tools, gilt lettering, turn-ins with delicate gilt palmette roll, leather hinges, bright blue endleaves, all edges gilt. Very expertly rebacked, retaining original backstrip. Engraved title page with vignette (uncolored), and 53 SUPERB HAND-COLORED AQUATINT PLATES, including the arms of the dedicatee, the Duke of Wellington, an allegorical frontispiece, and 51 martial scenes, mostly battles, all with original tissue guards. WITH AN ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR OF ONE OF THE PLATES (The meeting of the Emperors of Russia and Austria, King of Prussia, & Crown Prince of Sweden in the Great Square of Leipzig, Oct. 18th, 1813) SIGNED W. Heath 1814. A Large Paper Copy. Abbey Life 365; Prideaux, p. 34; Tooley 281. Slight variation in color of spine leather, a bit of shelfwear to tail edge of boards, just a hint of wear elsewhere; tissue guards somewhat foxed, but text and plates happily unaffected. AN ESPECIALLY FINE COPY--entirely clean, fresh, and bright internally with vibrant coloring, in a stately binding brimming with extravagantly glittering gilt.
In a spectacular period binding, this monumental copy of Jenkins' tribute to the British army is accompanied by an original watercolor by its illustrator. Dedicated to the Duke of Wellington, who, Jenkins writes in the dedicatory letter, has "raised the character of the British soldier in the scale of humanity," this volume is a celebration of the victory of Britain and its allies in the Napoleonic Wars. The richly colored plates are the work of William Heath (1794/5-1840); his original watercolor offered with our volume corresponds to the plate "Entrance of the Allied Sovereigns into Leipsic [sic]," commemorating a decisive victory for Britain and its allies that ended Napoleon's occupation east of the Rhine, and paved the way for his eventual total defeat. The watercolor reveals a notable level of delicacy, with carefully rendered details emerging from the hazy clouds of battle. Now best remembered for his career as a cartoonist and caricaturist, Heath began as a military painter, with the present work being his best known from the period. Full of movement and drama, his scenes depict pivotal moments from major British military campaigns and are accompanied by descriptions of each battle, often including excerpts from the letters or reports of the officers involved. In addition to its memorable binding and its early watermarks, our copy is distinguished by its size--it measures a full three inches taller than the Abbey copy, with broad, impressive margins around the text and illustrations. (ST21130b)
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