Plates heightened with gold and silver. Rowlandson's Loyal Volunteers reflects the rise in patriotism in the early nineteenth century which saw the formation of Volunteer Corps all over England. This was in response to the perceived threat from Napoleon. This copy is from the superior early issue with the plates heightened with gold and silver.

The work consists of 77 plates showing 79 figures of the infantry volunteers, together with 9 of cavalry.

First edition; 4to, (32.9 x 25.3 cm); text printed on Whatman paper dated 1794, hand-coloured engraved title page, 86 hand-coloured aquatint costume plates by Thomas Rowlandson, most heightened with gold and silver (plates dated 1798-1799), closed short marginal tear to Infantry plate 4, Cavalry plate 4 with some staining not affecting image, scattered spotting, mainly to text; later red half morocco, dampstain to upper board, extremities rubbed, a very good copy.

Abbey Life 379; Bobins II, 385; Colas, 2586; Tooley 416.