ID 993040
Lot 79 | ROWLANDSON, Thomas (1756-1827)
Estimate value
£ 2 000 – 3 000
Loyal Volunteers of London and Environs, Infantry & Cavalry, in Their Respective Uniforms [engraved title:] –This Illuminated School of Mars or Review of the Loyal Volunteer Corps of London [letterpress title]. London: R. Ackermann (1798-1799).
A very fresh copy of the first edition, the plates finely hand-coloured and highlighted in gold. 'Perhaps one of the most original and even romantic sets of English military plates' (Bobins). The volunteer corps came about as a response to the imminent threat of invasion by French revolutionary forces, and fear of the terror unleashed in Paris. In his introduction, Ackermann notes that ‘The high fermented state of Politics at home, in conjunction with the crooked policy of our enemies abroad, was truly alarming. At this moment, the enemy had advanced their best regulated legions to the shores of the British Channel; and for the determined purpose of spreading through our land such miseries as have already rendered wretched their own'. Rowlandson describes the drill position of each soldier in engraved text below each plate. A remarkable set of this beautiful and historically important work. Abbey Life 379; Bobins II, 385; Tooley 416.
Large quarto (325 x 253mm). Pp. viii, 4 including subscribers lists, 87 aquatint plates, including the title, coloured by a contemporary hand, some plates watermarked J. Whatman 1794, most highlighted in gold, numbered 1-79 for the infantry with 77,78 and 79 engraved on a single plate, and 1-9 for the cavalry, with plate 3 of cavalry mounted as frontispiece, all with printed descriptions, extra-illustrated with an unsigned plate of three infantrymen at end, plates with later tissue guards (some light spotting, very rare marginal mark). Early 20th-century red crushed morocco by Bayntun of Bath, covers with elaborate gilt-scrolled and leafy border, spine with raised bands gilt in compartments, wide turn-ins with corner-pieces of gilt pointillé and small gilt tools (rebacked with original spine laid down). Provenance: W. J. Mac Dougald (bookplate).
Special notice
No VAT is payable on the hammer price or the buyer's premium for this lot. Please see the VAT Symbols and Explanation section of the Conditions of Sale for further information
Auction house category: | Printed books |
---|
Auction house category: | Printed books |
---|
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.