Recueil d'estampes représentant les différents évènements de la guerre qui a procuré l’indépendance
A remarkable collection of plates on the war of Independence of the United States of America.
"The first French book with a title-page mentioning the United States" (Howes).
4° of 16 plates, contemporary boards.
284 X 235 mm.
Recueil d’estampes représentant les différents évènements de la guerre qui a procuré l’indépendance aux Etats-Unis de l’Amérique.
Paris, Ponce (vers 1784).
4° of 16 plates, contemporary boards.
284 X 235 mm.
First edition of this collection of 16 plates showing the origins and major events of the American revolution.
Sabin, n°68421 ; Cohen, 490 ; Howes, C-576 ; Winsor, VI, p. 185
First Edition of this attractive series of sixteen plates and maps of the American Revolution.
Recorded here are some of the major events of the War and of the larger global conflict between Great Britain and France, including the tarring and feathering of John Malcom at Boston, the battle of Lexington, the capitulation of Burgoyne at Saratoga, the capture of Dominica, Senegal, Grenada, Pensacola, and Tobago, the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, the battle of St. Eustache, the siege of Fort S.Philippe, and the attack on Brimstomhill. There is also a general map of the United States and a composite map of the Gulf of Mexico, Barbary, Minorca, and Tobago. Below each view, forming part of the engraved surface, is brief explanatory text by Niquet. The engraved title contains a précis of the War, surmounted by five inset views of military and naval engagements, while the final plate, decorated with four similar insets, gives a précis of the Treaty of Versailles in 1783 and a list of the principal officers killed or wounded in the war.
Howes describes this as the first French book with a title-page mentioning the United States.
The attractive plates (180 x 235 mm) were engraved by Ponce, Godefroy, Le Barbier, Marillier… and show the major events of the American revolution:
- engraved title with 5 plates on de naval and land battles including The English defeat in Louisiana and the capture of Fort de la Mobile on 14 March 1780.
- John Malcom or the origins of the American revolution.
- Lexington’s day.
- Sarratoga, on November 17th, 1777.
- Capture of Dominica.
- Capture of Sénégal.
- Capture of Grenada.
- Capture of Pensacola on May 9th, 1781.
- Capture of Tobago.
- Surrender of Lord Cornwallis’s army.
- Surprise of St Eustache.
- Siege of Fort S. Philippe on February 4th, 1782.
- Brimstomhill Attack.
- Map of the United States of America.
- Special maps.
- Peace Treaty.
It’s the only book written at the time of the events published in France on the subject and the first French book to mention the United States of America on its title-page.
A nice copy kept in its contemporary boards.
