SIMPSON, William (1823-1899). The Seat of the War in the East. London: Paul and Dominic Colnaghi, 1855-1856.

SIMPSON, William (1823-1899). The Seat of the War in the East. London: Paul and Dominic Colnaghi, 1855-1856.

First edition of Simpson’s important work on the Crimean War. He had been commissioned by the Colnaghis to go to Sebastopol and the resulting work, which earned him the name 'Crimean Simpson', records events at the height of the Crimean war, from September 1854 to the battle of Tchernaya in August 1855. It is impressive 'not only artistically and technically, but also as pictorial reporting' (Abbey). The presence of this work in a collection predominantly concerned with natural history might be explained by Godman’s travels into the Black Sea where he witnessed the Crimean War at first hand. Abbey Travel 237.

2 volumes in one, folio (560 x 371mm). 2 tinted lithographic titles with vignettes, dedication to Queen Victoria, and 79 tinted lithographic plates (some spotting, 3 plates in vol.1 trimmed just into text). Contemporary red half morocco gilt (rubbed).

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