68 BAUMAN RARE BOOKS Edward Orme’s Dramatic Collection Of 40 Superb Hand-Colored Aquatints Illustrating Events Of The Napoleonic Wars 90ORME, Edward, editor. Historic, Military and Naval Anecdotes of Personal Valour… in the Last Long-Contested War. London, 1819. Folio, contemporary full dark green morocco gilt rebacked with original spine laid down. $7500 First edition, first issue, of this vivid visual documentation of notable British victories, with 40 beautifully hand-colored aquatints, including extraordinary views of the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon’s Russian campaign and the Battle of Trafalgar. “Edward Orme was, after Rudolph Ackerman, the most important publisher of illustrated books during the short golden age of the coloured aquatint.” Born in Manchester, Orme moved to London and shortly after his first engraving was published was appointed printseller by King George III and subsequently editor-ofprints by King George IV. Orme soon began work on “the publication of a series of coloured aquatint books, ending in 1818 with Historic, Military and Naval Anecdotes” (DNB). Plate impressions crisp and hand-coloring quite vivid, usual light offsetting of plates to text. Contemporary morocco-gilt binding very lovely. A beautiful copy. “This Infernal Egypt! Nothing But A Waste Of Sand” 91(BONAPARTE, Napoleon). Copies of Original Letters from the French Army in Egypt. London, 1799-1800. Three volumes. Octavo, later three-quarter red morocco gilt. $2200 Complete three-volume set of French correspondence intercepted during Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt, extra-illustrated with portraits. During the French invasion of Egypt in 17981801, Turkish and English warships intercepted large numbers of both official and personal letters written by members of the French army. Selected portions of this correspondence were translated and published in order to offer the British public a better picture of Napoleon’s Egyptian expedition, as well as to propagandize against the French. Parts I and II were first published with accompanying English translations in 1798 and 1799 and immediately went through numerous printings; part I is here in the stated sixth and part II in the fifth, while part III appears here with an undated half title and without the title page. Without final advertisement leaves. Part I title page with faint early inked inscription in upper margin and one now-removed inscription at center of page. Scattered light foxing. A beautifully bound set of all three parts in near-fine condition.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDg3OTM=