AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE CAMPAIGN IN THE NETHERLANDS IN 1815, UNDER HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON . . . COMPRISING THE BATTLES OF LIGNY, QUATRE BRAS, AND WATERLOO

London: Henry Colburn, 1817. FIRST EDITION. 322 x 274 mm. (12 3/4 x 10 3/4"). One volume extended to two..
SUMPTUOUS CRIMSON STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO, GILT, BY MORRELL (stamp-signed on front turn-ins) covers with wide frame decorated with Neoclassical ornaments, raised bands, spine compartments framed by volutes and flowers, gilt lettering, gilt-framed turn-ins, scarlet watered silk endleaves, leather hinges, top edges gilt. WITH 30 HAND-COLORED PLATES, as called for, including a double-page view of the Battle of Waterloo, a folding battle plan for Ligny, and a folding map of the route from Brussels to Paris, the last two expertly repaired and backed in linen, and EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 66 PLATES, eight of these hand-colored, most portraits of military leaders. With "Portraits of General Officers" used as the frontispiece, as in Abbey, in place of the seldom-seen plate, "Waterloo, in Memory of Shaw of the Life Guards," that appears in some copies (but is not on the list of plates). With an ALS dated Dublin Castle, 1st Oct[?] 1819, signed by Lord Whitworth. Front flyleaves with engraved armorial bookplate of Frederick S. Peck. Abbey "Life" 372; Tooley 336; Cohn, "Cruikshank" 556. ◆Joints, edges, and corners with visible but not serious wear, one plate with neatly repaired marginal tear just touching edge of image, occasional mild foxing, additional trivial imperfections, otherwise fine--clean and fresh internally, with richly colored plates, in a lustrous binding bright with gilt.

This is a very attractively illustrated celebration of Wellington's victorious campaign against Napoleon, offered here in a special copy enhanced by additional plates, many depicting principal actors in the conflict, and a stately Neoclassical binding. Famed illustrator George Cruikshank drew the frontispiece depicting the seven general officers for the British side, along with the ebullient illustrated title depicting victory, the double-page plate of the fateful Battle of Waterloo, and the ignominious "Flight of Bonaparte." The plates contributed by James Rouse mostly depict the countryside and villages in the area where fighting was taking place. Journalist and novelist William Mudford (1782-1848) wrote the text with assistance from primary sources, among these the Duke of Wellington himself, to whom the work is dedicated. Mudford was the editor of the "Courier," an evening journal with a conservative stance on politics. His prose is described as "vigorous" by the "Dictionary of Literary Biography," which also notes his flair for creating atmosphere. These gifts were brought to bear on the present account, rendering this historic campaign in vivid terms. The manuscript letter inserted into the second volume was written by Lord Charles Whitworth (1752-1825), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at the time of writing. He had been the British Ambassador to France when Napoleon was first consul, and had gained much respect for the determination and dignity with which he had handled the mercurial Bonaparte's tirades against his country. Here, he recommends to an unknown recipient the person who had conducted financial affairs for him in France. The present bindings are the work of the London bindery of W. T. Morrell, established about 1861 as successor to the firm begun by Francis Bedford, who, in turn, had taken over the famous bindery of Charles Lewis. Prideaux in her "Modern Bookbindings" says that Morrell at that time had a very large business that supplied "all the booksellers with bindings designed by his men," which were "remarkable for their variety and merit." The scion of an old and prosperous New England family, former owner Frederick Stanhope Peck (1868-1947) was an avid collector of books and manuscripts, amassing a collection of more than 8,000 titles. When his library went to auction in 1944, it was noted for its fine bindings and excellent condition..