JENKINS, JAMES [PUBLISHER] | The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. London: J. Jenkins, 1817

JENKINS, JAMES [PUBLISHER]

The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. London: J. Jenkins, 1817

4to (14 1/8 x 11 1/4 in.; 360 X 290 mm). Engraved title, dedication, 55 hand-colored aquatint plates, one plain plate; one or two closed marginal tears, final leaf slightly soiled, some offsetting on to guards. Contemporary half red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands in six compartments, second and third gilt lettered, green endpapers; rubbing to extremities with some loss to morocco, lower board slightly warped.

First edition

In the words of Roger Quarm of the National Maritime Museum: "As a record of naval events spanning a period of over twenty years Jenkins' Naval Achievements has no precedent. At no time prior to 1817 had a publisher attempted such a complete volume of documentary naval prints. It is the quality of the accuracy which makes Jenkins so valuable above all, and it is the pictures rather than the text to which the value can be attributed." 

REFERENCES

Abbey, Life 337

PROVENANCE

Sir Denys Colquhoun Flowerdew Lowson, 1st Baronet (armorial bookplate to front pastedown)