Marrin's Bookshop

Synopsis

The journal of henry edward napier lieutenant in h.m.s. nymphe. edited by walter muir whitehill. printed by the southworth-anthoensen press, portland, maine. the edition consists of...twelve hundred copies on sterling antique paper.

Item Description

4to. 10 x 7.25 inches. xxi + [i] + 88 pp. + [2] + [1] pp. limited edition statement + 5 blank pages. Bound in original blue cloth, gilt. Rough cut edges. A little wear to extremities, spine title faded and a light foxing at edges of flyleaves; otherwise a very good copy. !939 gift inscription on first free endpaper. Later pictorial bookplate. Illustrated by 8 black and white plates and by folding chart. Decorated by title and limited edition page and head and tailpiece vignettes. A journal of British naval operations against the US in the naval war of 1812-14. Lieutenant Henry Edward Napier (1789-1853) from a prominent military family joined the navy in 1803. He had two commands with the rank of commander from 1814; retiring on half pay from 1815 he held two further appointments in the 1820s, being promoted to captain in 1830 and later published on the history of Florence. HMS Nymphe was a 38 gun fifth rate frigate commissioned launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1812. She served on the North America station from Halifax from July of that year. The editor, Walter Muir Whitehill (1905-78) wrote on the history of Boston and served as Director and Librarian of the Boston Athenaeum, 1946-73.