ARMY AND NAVY DROLLERIES by SECCOMBE, CAPTAIN

London : Frederick Warne and Co. and New York: Scribner, Welford, and Armstrong, 1876. First edition. Hardback. Seccombe is referred to as Captain (in later editions he becomes Major or Lieutenant Colonel) on the front of the red cloth boards. With alphabetical descriptions and illustrations from designs by the author. Printed in colours by Kronheim. Complete with 25 full-page colour plates, including frontis. Boards are darkened, and rubbed at edges. The gilt design and lettering has been slightly rubbed away. Internally, one or two of the blank pages in between illustrations has a small closed tear, not affecting any text or illustration pages. Text 27pp + 2pp adverts. 270 x 230 mm (10¾ x 9 inches).

London; New York: Frederick Warne and Co.; Scribner, Welford, and Armstrong, 1876. First edition. Very good plus.. First edition of an alphabet of rhyming "military nonsense," published in the midst of the British Empire's military expansion. Amusing caricatures of and commentaries on aspects of British military life during a time when the sun never set on the Empire. Favorites like mounted Dragoons, Highlanders, and Lancers lend their names to letters of the alphabet and humorous rhymes. Some caricatures make use of harmful exaggerations of national and racial features. The work captures the late 19th century British zeitgeist, as a series of colonial victories drove a public desire for military media in everything from novels to children's books to novelty ephemera. 10.5'' x 8.5''. Original green publisher's cloth binding stamped in gilt, black, and red. Full-page color frontispiece with 25 full-page color illustrations, each with tissue guard. [50] leaves printed one side only, with 2 leaves of… Read More