St. Helena [an album of pressed plants, particularly Longwood and Napoleon's tomb]

Offered for sale by Adam Langlands of 'Shadowrock Rare Books' - for more information please contact him via email at [email protected] 

NAPOLEON 1st. - Cecil George Savile FOLJAMBE, 1^st Earl of Liverpool. (1846-1907, compiler).

[Hortus Siccus: a small album, titled:] "St. Helena" [on the upper cover, containing pressed ferns, flowers and other plants from St. Helena, particularly Longwood and Napoleon's tomb] St. Helena: 1861-1870]. Quarto ( 8 1/4 x 6 1/2in; 209 x 165mm). 7 leaves with approximately 20 mounted examples. Stitched into drab paper wrappers. Condition: some damage to contents (see images). Provenance:  Elizabeth Anne Bury (nee Foljambe, 1848-1930, inserted into an album which was presented to her by her brother).

Collected by the future Earl of Liverpool, probably whilst he was serving as a Midshipman aboard H.M.S. ‘Curacoa’ - he went on to have a distinguished career in politics (see wikipedia). Some pages include manuscript identifiers: 'Moss from Long Wood [sic.]', 'Cyprus from the tomb', 'Hand Bird seed from long Wood [sic.]'. Longwood House. St. Helena, was where Napoleon, Emperor of the French, died on 5 May 1821. 

“Foljambe was born at Osberton Hall in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. He was the son of George Savile Foljambe and Lady Selina Jenkinson, daughter of Charles Jenkinson, 3rd Earl of Liverpool. Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, was his great-uncle, and his older half-brother was Francis Foljambe, a fellow Liberal politician.

He joined the Royal Navy and served as a midshipman 1861–67 then lieutenant 1867–70, in England, and in New Zealand during the Waikato War in 1863–64. He kept his own hand-written logs of his voyages, which include numerous colour and black and white sketches. His postings included HMS Victory (1861–1862), HMS Defence (1862–1863), HMS Curacoa (1863–1867), HM Gunboat Pioneer (1863), HM Steamer Avon (1863–1864), and HM Colonial Steamer Koheroa (1864). During 1863, he completed a running survey of the Waikato River between Ngāruawāhia and Hunlty when a fellow shipmate was wounded. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 June 1867, and retired from the navy on 2 May 1870.” (wikipedia).