Dressed to Kill, Dressed to Till
[NAPOLEONIC BRITISH ARMY UNIFORMS]. SMITH, Charles Hamilton. Costume of the Army of the British Empire, according to the latest regulations, 1814. Designed by an officer of the staff. London: W. Bulmer for Colnaghi and Co., [1812]-1815. Modern red morocco leather binding with gilt lettering and edging, and top of page edges gilt. Large folio (422 x 323mm). Hand-colored aquatint frontispiece, engraved dedication, and 60 plates aquatinted by I.C. Stadler after original watercolors by Colonel Charles Hamilton Smith(1776-1859). All of the plates are hand-colored and heightened with gold and silver, 54 being figural studies of regimental uniforms and 6 being schematic charts showing the distinctive uniform elements (coat and facing colors, enlisted lace patterns and button-hole spacing, and the color of officer lace and buttons—silver or gold) for every regiment in British service, including foreign corps and militia. A VERYT FINE COPY, WITH WIDE MARGINS, OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY WORK ON THE DRESS OF WELLINGTON’S ARMY. The earliest plates are dated March 1812 and the last June 1815, the work having originally appeared in 15 installments of 4 plates in each. Ogilby notes that in the parts issue the date of the ‘Last Regulations’ refers to the 1812 specifications adopted by the Board of General Officers, whereas in the bound edition this is altered to 1814. Smith served in the army between 1797 and 1820. A writer on military history, he used his artistic ability to good effect in several works on British costume, besides establishing a reputation as an artist/naturalist. [Colas 2754; Hiler p. 803; Lipperheide Qh10; Ogilby 870; Tooley 456; Vinet 2195].
Share this lot:
