Naval Costume: From Sketches Made on a Bed of Pain in 1837, Unfaithfully Lithographed.

SYMONDS, Sir William (1782-1856).

London: Privately Published, n.d. [1840]. SIGNED COPY. Quarto. Forty engraved plates of ships, both military and merchant. With four page fold-out of a classification of Topmasts, Yards, Sails etc. Two engravings per plate. Inscribed in black ink by the artist on front paste-down to the Bishop of Norwich, dated 1843. Also inscribed "Learn of the little nautilus to Saie". Photocopy from the Dictionary of National Biography pasted to front free end-paper. In original green blind-stamped cloth with gilt titles to upper board. Internally clean. Wear and bumping externally; joints splitting. Still quite robust. Fair overall. Having dabbled in ship design earlier in his career Symonds was appointed Surveyor of the Royal Navy in 1832, completing over 200 ships by the time he retired in 1847. Item #45768

Price: £295.00