The Naval Chronology of Great Britain;

Rare hand-coloured issue in the even rarer original parts. A superb set of the rare genuine hand-coloured issue, in the even rarer original parts, of this impressive work on the actions of the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 against America. Only a handful of sets in original parts have appeared in the last 60 years, and often with repair or refurbishments to the wrappers and plates.

This work was intended as a continuation of the Schomberg's Naval Chronology which goes up to 1802. In fact James Ralfe (fl.1820-1829) goes into much more detail than his inspiration, including many private letters by Captains and Admirals who witnessed first hand the action described in the text. Included is the Battle of Trafalgar, with a depiction of HMS Victory, and plates of American interest: capture of U.S. frigate Chesapeake, capture of island of Curacao, etc.

Most of the plates are after Thomas Whitcombe (1763-c.1824), a prominent artist of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who did most of the oils specifically for this work. He exhibited at the Royal Academy fifty-six times between 1783 and 1824.

This set contains the all important inscriptions printed in blue on some of the plates, which identify the owner or creator of original artwork which were used in the creation of the respective plates.

'Issued plain and coloured: care should be taken when selecting a copy that one is not chosen where the plain plates have been coloured at a later period. It will be found that genuine coloured copies carry a number of inscriptions, "from a sketch by...", or others similar, printed in blue. Copies that do not possess these are definitely later colouring, and no matter how well the colourist may have worked, of no value to the collector.' (Abbey).

First edition in original 12 parts; 8vo (26 x 18 cm); 60 aquatint plates, 59 of which hand-coloured, as issued, including three frontispieces, list of subscribers, partially unopened, edges a little wrinkled, internally fine; publisher's buff wrappers, manuscript part numbers and price to upper covers as issued, wrappers a little foxed and frayed, preserved in two full blue crushed morocco drop-back boxes, spines in six compartments compartments with gilt ship motifs, a superb set; 318, x pp.

Abbey Life 342; Bobins 1290; Howes R-21; Sabin 67602; Tooley 392.