A Visit to Flanders in July 1815; and Wellington The Year of the Sword Field of Waterloo

A Visit to Flanders in July 1815 (sixth edition 1816), the main book in the lot, was presented to the Officers' Mess, 5th Lancers, by Major J Hutchin in 1888. Half-bound in tan calf and marbled paper-board sides. Marbled endpapers and page edges. [iv] + x + 198 pp of text + [iv].

More than half of the folded frontispiece map called for is missing. The author, a barrister, made his visit soon after the battle of Waterloo. His book is divided into Antwerp, Brussels, Visit to the Field (the main text), Conclusion and five Appendixes, which were "the British Account of the Battle of Waterloo (from the London Gazette Extraordinary)", "the Prussian Account (Marshal Blucher)", "the Spanish Account (General Miguel Alava)", "the French Official Account", and Marshal Ney's "Observations on the Battle". The last of these is perhaps the most valuable of the appendixes, being not only an apologia for France's most famous commander but a strong criticism of Napoleon's change of plan during the battle, when without warning he redirected the four divisions in support of Ney, the move which, Marshal Ney insisted, led to the French defeat.

A copy of Longford's Wellington. A Year of the Sword is added for the further 77 pp perspective it gives to Waterloo.

The main book is included because of its scarcity as well as its early and balanced coverage of one of the most famous battles of the past two hundred years and one which ended Napoleon's domination of Europe. The copy is only Fair to Good, however. Apart from the map - more than half of which is missing -  it is complete and unmarked except for the presentation and officer's mess details. But the boards are rubbed, the corners are bumped and the spine label is damaged.