[Rarebooks] fa: THE NAVAL ATALANTIS 1788-89 - FLAG OFFICERS & POST-CAPTAINS in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other Exploration & Naval History, auctions ending Sunday, January 13. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/ahbb9pw

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.


[Joseph Harris:] The Naval Atalantis; or, A Display of the Characters of such Flag Officers as were Distinguished during the Last War [AND] Characters of Post-Captains who Served during the Late War. By Nauticus Junior. Parts I & II. London: Printed for J. Ridgway, 1788, 1789. FIRST EDITIONS. The two parts (all published) bound together in one volume; 8vo (22 cm); early/original paper-covered boards rebacked in calf, with vellum corners; [4], iv, 195, [1] p.; [5], iv-viii, 125, [1] p. ESTC T39713, T39712; Howes H229;  Sabin 52070 (for part I, the second part being unknown to him).

Scarce, spirited and opinionated collection of character sketches of the foremost British naval figures involved in the American War of Independence. Though he professes impartiality, the author skewers many of his targets (mostly Tories) with a "vulgar petulance and spleen, which considerably lessen the degree of credibility with which he expects to be honoured" (Analytical Review, June, 1789). Of Admiral Lord Howe, for example, he writes: "we do not find that he has in any respect signalized himself; in fact, his Lordship's conduct on the coast of North America, rather served to throw a shade over the  laurels he had acquired in his youth…" Included are sketches of Admirals Howe, Rodney, Hood, Jervis, Sir Peter Parker, Prince William Henry (Duke of Gloucester), Captains George Keppel, George Anson Byron, and many others, more than ninety in all. A lively and fascinating review of the British navy at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Binding with some rubbing and bumping/wear to the extremities; very occasional light scattered spotting; a few light pencilled underlinings and marginal notes by an early (perhaps the original) owner, who seems quite knowledgeable on the subject and quite as opinionated as the author himself, inscribing in the margin at one point: "Stuff! What trash!"; otherwise the contents are quite clean and sound, firmly bound. Both parts are uncommon, even more so when found together.