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Brenton, Edward Pelham (Captain) : The Naval History of Great Britain from the year MDCCLXXXIII to MDCCCXII - Five Volumes

C Rice, Mount Street, Berkeley Square, London, 1823

Full set complete. A RARE FULL SET of the FIRST EDITION of this very popular Naval History of Great Britain. Fully leather bound in green morocco. Stamped gilt decoration. The spine has four ridges. There are decoration and titling on alternate panels. The spines are calm, dignified. The entire set is very clubbable, charming and handsome. Please note that a plate of the Spanish Main is missing from volume five (although there is no evidence of removal). This series was most popular and reprinted many times: Brenton's history was personal (he was an experienced sailor and navy man), at times controversial. All have marbled front and end papers. All have an ex-libris plate for Francis Dick (of the old Scots family). There are stamps also indicating ownership of the 'Stonehouse Reading Room'. The history covers one of the most thrilling and important in European and British history and it is a compulsive read - this set gives the read ample enjoyment. Volume 1 (printer: J F Dove, St John's Square: 1823). The boards are sound with some scuffing, wear and marks to the edges and faces. These are benign. The spine has shelving and handling wear to the body, head and foot. Inside, the frontispages have some damp stains at the spine corners - but these do not affect the text. The pages - as with the other volumes - have printer markings at the bottom. The pages are clear, confident and eager. Covers: the loss of American colonies, the state of French, Spanish and British navies at the end of the American war, Holy Roman Empire ambitions, Bligh and the Mutiny, the death of Emperor Joseph and Sweden's Gustavus, Cornwallis, Indian Ocean, Egypt, the Cape, Laval. Vol. 2: a contented, comfortable copy. The boards have some markings, some wear to the edges and spine. But these are mild. The boards are sound and sure. The pages are firm, clean, clear and certain. Covers: West Indies action, Bonaparte's star soars, St Helena to attack the Cape!, France and America, Nelson is on the scene, Battle of the Nile. Volume 3: (1824). The boards are gallant with wear to the board-faces, corners and spine. The back board has been stained by damp at its bottom spine edge. There are some very mild consequent damp marks to the very final pages at the binding edge. The contents are mild and generous. Brenton makes amends in his preface. Cockburn, Napoleon, improvements to the Navy, French treatment of prisoners, invasion threat!, Nelson to the rescue, imperial woes in the Americas, West Indies and the Cape of Good Hope. Volume 4 (1825). There are scatterings of age marks within. The boards are masculine. There is some wear to the corners and spine. The boards are rubbed and lightly marked. They are serene. France the enemy1, India, European affairs, Cochrane, the action moves to all of the Americas, Danish war, a Bernadotte elected to the throne of Sweden, George III's illness. Volume five and Brenton brings his labours to an end. An aged copy. The boards beam genially with some marks and wear, scuffing and rubbing. The guttering along the reverse title page is cracked. Nonetheless the binding is firm and the pages are tight. The pages are competent and diligent and mild-mannered. They have some age marks. The Americans become disagreeable and plan horrid things, Wellington, Napoleon sees Elba and escapes and thus sees St Helena instead, the death of the King!, Bonaparte sees the pearly gates as does Queen Caroline, the British become adventurous in the time of peace. A most pleasant set for reference, reading and reception. Oh! the happy owner! fk. Book Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Jacket: No Jacket

1st Edition.

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