![ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851). Military Duties, Occurrences, &c., &c., by Henry Alken. Collected and Published by Thomas McLean. 26 Haymarket [contemporary manuscript title so lettered]. [London: c.1825-1830].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0245_001(alken_henry_thomas_military_duties_occurrences_c_c_by_henry_alken_coll051939).jpg?w=1)
![ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851). Military Duties, Occurrences, &c., &c., by Henry Alken. Collected and Published by Thomas McLean. 26 Haymarket [contemporary manuscript title so lettered]. [London: c.1825-1830].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0245_002(alken_henry_thomas_military_duties_occurrences_c_c_by_henry_alken_coll051949).jpg?w=1)
![ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851). Military Duties, Occurrences, &c., &c., by Henry Alken. Collected and Published by Thomas McLean. 26 Haymarket [contemporary manuscript title so lettered]. [London: c.1825-1830].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0245_003(alken_henry_thomas_military_duties_occurrences_c_c_by_henry_alken_coll051958).jpg?w=1)
![ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851). Military Duties, Occurrences, &c., &c., by Henry Alken. Collected and Published by Thomas McLean. 26 Haymarket [contemporary manuscript title so lettered]. [London: c.1825-1830].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17736_0245_000(alken_henry_thomas_military_duties_occurrences_c_c_by_henry_alken_coll055221).jpg?w=1)
Details
ALKEN, Henry Thomas (1785-1851). Military Duties, Occurrences, &c., &c., by Henry Alken. Collected and Published by Thomas McLean. 26 Haymarket [contemporary manuscript title so lettered]. [London: c.1825-1830].
The rarest Alken item, corresponding with an almost identical example, with the same grey woodcut borders, extensively described by Abbey (Life 394), where it is said that only two copies are known beside the one described there. Although most of the plates show generic military scenes, there are some interesting plates relating showing Ottoman troops with 'Circassian Prisoners' (pl. 26) and 'A Tartar Camp' (pl. 27). More historical context is provided by plate 35 showing 'American Bushmen,' while pl. 28 shows the 'Death of Ponitawski' (sic, i.e. the death of Jozef Poniatowski at Leipzig in 1813).
Large octavo (263 x 178mm). 56 handcoloured etched plates window mounted within woodcut rococo borders, the first 40 plates captioned in manuscript by the same hand as the title page (frontispiece and title lightly spotted and with offsetting). Contemporary red straight-grained morocco, covers with gilt frames, gilt spine, edges and turn-ins (spine faded slightly to brown, joints rubbed). Provenance: Jane Sarah Case (armorial bookplate) – Alfred Barmore Barclay (small red leather gilt bookplate) – C.A. Stonehill (bookdealer's description taped onto front free endpaper) – Gloucester (bookplate).
The rarest Alken item, corresponding with an almost identical example, with the same grey woodcut borders, extensively described by Abbey (Life 394), where it is said that only two copies are known beside the one described there. Although most of the plates show generic military scenes, there are some interesting plates relating showing Ottoman troops with 'Circassian Prisoners' (pl. 26) and 'A Tartar Camp' (pl. 27). More historical context is provided by plate 35 showing 'American Bushmen,' while pl. 28 shows the 'Death of Ponitawski' (sic, i.e. the death of Jozef Poniatowski at Leipzig in 1813).
Large octavo (263 x 178mm). 56 handcoloured etched plates window mounted within woodcut rococo borders, the first 40 plates captioned in manuscript by the same hand as the title page (frontispiece and title lightly spotted and with offsetting). Contemporary red straight-grained morocco, covers with gilt frames, gilt spine, edges and turn-ins (spine faded slightly to brown, joints rubbed). Provenance: Jane Sarah Case (armorial bookplate) – Alfred Barmore Barclay (small red leather gilt bookplate) – C.A. Stonehill (bookdealer's description taped onto front free endpaper) – Gloucester (bookplate).
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