Descrizione

First edition, the first of the two issues of 1743, being the issue printed by Robinson with the author's names stated. With a number of attractive woodcut headpieces and initials. 8vo (190 x 120 mm), especially well bound in very handsome contemporary full polished brown calf, the boards framed with double-ruled gilt, edges hatched in blind, the spine finely gilt decorated with elaborate detailed tooling in five compartments between wide gilt ruled and hatched raised bands, a sixth compartment with red morocco label ruled and lettered in gilt, additional gilt at the tips and along the joints. With the engraved bookplate of Lord de Saumarez, an admiral of the British Royal Navy, notable for his victory at the Second Battle of Algeciras. Saumarez is one of the true historical figures to appear in C. S. Forester's Hornblower novels, being celebrated in two of the novels. Saumarez's fictional alter-ego also plays a role in two of the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian. Now housed in a handsome green cloth clamshell box with morocco label, gilt. xx, 220 pp. A very handsome and well preserved copy, the text clean, crisp, and unpressed, the handsome binding solid and sturdy with a some expert and accomplished restoration along the joints and a bit of touching up to the corners. In all a fine copy with excellent Naval provenance.