Naval Achievements of Great Britain from the Year 1793 to 1817, The

London: Printed for J. Jenkins... by L. Harrison, 1817. First Edition, First Issue With Pre Publication Watermarks
Fifty-Five Superb Hand-Colored Aquatint Plates

JENKINS, James. The Naval Achievements of Great Britain from the Year 1793 to 1817. London: Printed for J. Jenkins... by L. Harrison, [1817].

First edition, First Issue With Pre-Publication Watermarks

Large quarto (13 7/8 x 11 5/16 inches; 352 x 287 mm.). xii, pp. (including dedication, introduction, list of plates and list of subscribers) and [74] leaves of descriptive text. Engraved title with hand-colored vignette and fifty-five hand-colored aquatint plates by T. Sutherland, J. Baily, and J. Jeakes after T. Whitcombe and Pocock. One uncolored plate with plan of the Bombardment of Algiers and plan of the Battle of Trafalgar. Text watermarked J. Whatman 1812; twelve plates watermarked J. Whatman 1811 and two plates watermarked J. Whatman 1816. Bound without the list of subscribers.

Contemporary half red roan over marbled boards. Spine with five double raised bands, ruled in blind and lettered in gilt in compartments. Armorial bookplate of William Hutton on front paste-down.

A large and tall example (Abbey's copy measured 13 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches). In this copy, which is a first issue with pre-publication watermarks throughout, the engraved-title vignette is colored. This is quite unusual with early issues as all the literature states that only later issues had the title vignette colored.

"As in the "Martial Achievements" there are late issues of the plates which must be examined to see that the watermarks are pre-publication. Some copies of this work have one or two additional plates, namely portraits of Nelson and Lord St. Vincent. The work is complete without them. Copies were issued with the plates on India paper and also in etched outline. Some large-paper copies have the plates in three states. More sought after than the Martial Achievements, it is becoming uncommon". (Tooley p. 234-5).

"Collectors should note that evidence of early state in this book can be found in the title-page vignette, originally issued uncoloured, and coloured only in later issues. The book was reprinted as late at 1840, copies having been seen with watermarks of the date." (Abbey, Life. p. 287). Abbey's copy measured 13 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches.

Abbey, Life, 337; Bobins II, 360; Tooley 282.