Military Books

Karlsruhe: C.F. Mullers, 1819. Two volumes in one, as issued. [5] leaves, 294 pages, [2] leaves, 52 pages, plus plates. The first leaf is a collective title page for both volumes. The second part bears a separate title page. Complete with 23 lithograph plates, including twenty-one double-page plates and two folding plates. One of the plates is a map; the remainder are diagrams of military movements. Original publisher's illustrated light boards, with a lithograph decoration on spine and a different lithograph vignette on each cover. [14.3 cm.] Housed in original cardboard slipcase covered in marbled paper, with printed paper spine label, and semicircular cut-out at head of front and rear panels (to ease removal of the book from case). A very good or better copy. Hint of wear to spine ends. Moderate soiling to small portion of each board (corresponding to cut-outs in slipcase), with no impact on illustrations. Light scattered foxing, with almost no impact on plates. Slipcase is… Read More

London: Parker, Furnivall, and Parker, 1853 Comprising the engraved series title page followed by texts II-XIX. Title page to 39th VI-XI. 128 pages with two colour lithograph plates the first depicting the Colours and the second the Uniforms. Red cloth, blind impressed with gilt titling. Spine slightly faded and nominal damp stain to boards top edge but not affecting texts or plates.

London: John W.Parker, 1842 Half title, IV-VIII. Title, the Seventh, plate, half title, VI-VIII. pp. 102. One hand coloured plate, the uniform in 1842. Red cloth. blind impressed with gilt titling. Spine slightly faded with nominal damp marks to edges, but not affecting texts or plate.

London: printed by Nichols and Sons, 1805. 84 pages. Publisher's boards with marbled paper spine. Record of an important test case. Eamer was appointed Colonel of the East London Militia in 1803 and endeavoured to raise the regiment to the same standard of efficiency as the rest of the army. Many of his officers objected strongly to the changes he introduced and accused him of oppressive behaviour. (For other books about the Napoleonic Wars please search my stock using the codeword napoleonic.)

London: HMSO, 1887-1888. About 1750 pages in all published in parts between 1887 and 1888. Folio. Complete set of 10 reports including all indexes and papers. C216, 216-I, 223, 223-I, 232, 232-I, 239, 259, 259-I from the 1887 session; C120, 212, 225, 269, 269-I, 269-II, 285, 285-I from the 1888 session. First session reports in blue paper as issued; second session reports bound together but without a hard cover (see picture). Churchill had resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1886 after failing to enforce spending cuts on the army and navy.

Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1909. 2 volumes. xxiv and 382 pages; iv and 391 pages. 50 plates including 9 in colour by J C Leask and Major R A Wymer, folding genealogical table, 6 maps. 4to. Publisher's green cloth with regimental crest in gold on the front boards; the second volume is very slightly rubbed and has one bumped corner. (For other British army regimental histories please search my stock using the keyword regimental.)

London: War Office, 1911. 32 pages. 32 pages of text. 3 concertinas of colour plates - 8 French, 21 German and 8 Belgian. A very good copy in the publisher's cloth backed boards.

London: B D Cousins, 1840. 434 double column pages with woodcuts. Publisher's blind stamped green cloth. The National Library of Scotland attributes this novel to Alexander Somerville. It purports to be the autobiography of a soldier of the 94th. Somerville himself enlisted in the Royal Scots Greys in 1831. In May 1832, during the Chartist riots, he sent a letter to a newspaper stating that the army was preventing the lawful exercise of citizens rights in the interests of protecting private property. His superiors were unable to courtmartial him since there was no regulation preventing him from writing to the press. Instead they ordered him to take charge of an unbroken horse. When he refused to mount, he was court-martialled and sentenced to one hundred lashes. Subsequently a court of inquiry acquitted his commanding officer. A subscription was raised on Somerville's behalf and he was able to purchase his discharge. (For other books about the Napoleonic Wars please search my stock using the keyword… Read More

London: William Clowes, 1822. vii and 400 pages. A fine copy in later half red calf and marbled boards.

London: Smith Elder, 1858. 204 pages. A very good copy recased in the publisher's salmon cloth blind; the covers are a trifle dusty and the headcap has been neatly repaired. Sorsky 374. Ladendorf 260 with note 'excellent evidence for conditions in the countryside by an unusually unbiased observer'. (For other books about the military history of the British in India please search my stock using the keyword india.)

T.E. Lawrence. REVOLT IN THE DESERT. George H. Doran Copyright1927. DOUBLEDAY DORAN First American Edition. States First Printing in America, March, 1927. AUTOBIOGRAPHY. INCLUDES RARE VG FOLD-OUT MAP IN NICE CONDITION. 335 PAGES, INDEXED. USED. VERY GOOD CONDITION/ NO DUST JACKET IS INCLUDED. Maroon boards. 6 3/8 x 9 ¼. YOUR OFFERS ARE WELCOME HERE!

Tours: Maison Alfred Mame & Fils Hard cover in original decorative green cloth. Published Tours: Maison Alfred Mame & Fils, no date. Text in French. Folio, 10 1/2" x 13 1/2", 245pp., illustrated with 19 full color plates, plus b/w reproductions. Green cloth with elaborate gilt decorated cover and spine. spine cloth frayed at the ends, wear along edges, old clear plastic cover taped to pastedowns, otherwise very good. Pages and plates clean and bright with no foxing, binding strong. . Hard. Very Good/No Jacket. Folio.

London: Oxford University Press, 1952. First edition. Hard cover in dust jacket. Published London: Oxford University Press, Geoffrey Cumberlege, Publisher to the University, 1952, first printing, 8vo., 7" x 10", xiii+517pp., illustrated with plates, a few in color, map endpapers, 4 folding maps at rear. Bound in green cloth with gilt tiles and gilt cover crest. A near fine, clean, bright, attractive copy, folding maps fine. Light dust spotting on top edge, minor nicking front edge of page block. In a near fine, unclipped dust jacket with a short, closed tear. Scarce.. 1st. Hard. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8vo.

London: William Clowes & Sons, 1890. First edition. Hard cover in original decorated cloth. Published London: William Clowes & Sons, 1890. Small 4to., 8" x 10 1/4", 81pp., illus. with 19 double-page original color plates by Richard Knotel, with tissue guards, plus one additional plate "Marine Schutz und Kolonialtruppen" from outside source. Blue-green decorated cloth with gilt and red titles, cover pictorial of mounted soldier, all edge gilting, bevelled edges. Wear at the spine ends and corners, mild starting to the cloth at the hinge, wear to some tissue guards, bookplate on pastedown. Very good. . 1st. Hard. Very Good/No Jacket. Illus. by Knotel, Richard. 4to.

Tan cloth binding with gilt title on the spine. Black title on the front board. Dimensions are for one volume. Volumes 1 to 6
This is a much-underrated series which is gaining popularity.
Review: The books are quite compact and easy to read with a few maps and photos. My opinion so far is that they give a good overall picture of the war rather than focussing on units etc. Each volume gives a diary of main events and there are also some useful biographical descriptions of certain leaders/personalities associated with the war. It was a good investment that has helped fill out my knowledge of what was happening.