A Fine Book of English Military Costume, With Illustrations by Rowlandson
Loyal Volunteers of London & Environs, Infantry & Calvalry, in their Respective. Uniforms. Representing the whole of the Manual, Platoon, & Funeral Exercise, in 87 Plates. Designed & etched by T. Rowlandson, and dedicated by permission to His Royal Highness the Duke of Glocester.
London: R. Ackermann, 1798.
. Loyal Volunteers of London & Environs, Infantry & Calvalry, in their Respective . Uniforms. Representing the whole of the Manual, Platoon, & Funeral Exercise, in 87 Plates. Designed & etched by T. Rowlandson, and dedicated by permission to His Royal Highness the Duke of Glocester. London: R. Ackermann, 1798.
Full Description:
ROWLANDSON, T[homas]. Loyal Volunteers of London & Environs, Infantry & Calvalry, in their Respective Uniforms. Representing the whole of the Manual, Platoon, & Funeral Exercise, in 87 Plates. Designed & etched by T. Rowlandson, and dedicated by permission to His Royal Highness the Duke of Glocester. [London: R. Ackermann, 1798-1799].
First edition, early issue (with most of the plates heightened in gold and a few additionally in silver). Folio (13 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches; 350 x 270 mm.). viii, [4, subscriber's list], [88] pp. Complete with eighty-eight numbered figures on eighty-six plates and the hand-colored engraved title showing cherubs, masks and a coat of arms. So complete with all eighty-seven hand-colored aquatint plates. Descriptive text for each plate. Some of the pages watermarked 1794.
Beautifully bound by Bedford in full bright green morocco. Boards ruled in gilt with floral corner devices. Spine richly stamped and lettered in gilt in compartments. Gilt board edges and dentelles. Maroon coated endpapers. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Spine is faded to a golden brown. One plate (#49) with some mild toning around border, not affecting illustration. Plate 60 with a tiny closed tear repaired at bottom margin, not affecting image. A wonderful copy of this sumptuous color-plate book, exceptionally clean..
An excellent copy of this remarkable military record which even in 1923 was described as 'scarce and difficult to obtain'. Commissioned by Ackermann, who could see that with the increasing encouragement being given to the Volunteer Movement within the military there was a potential market (particularly those who were bank-rolling these units), for a very deluxe 'drill manual'. The plates not only provide an invaluable historical record of the uniforms but they also show in great detail the nature of the drills of the time.
Abbey, Life, 379. Tooley 416. Colas 2586.
HBS 69194.
$6,000.
Price: $6,000.00
Item #69194