Historical Account of the Campaign in the Netherlands, in 1815, An

London: Henry Colburn, 1817. The Fall of Emperor Napoleon I and the Victory of the English Armies
Illustrated with Twenty-Eight Superb Hand Colored Aquatint Plates

MUDFORD, William. CRUIKSHANK, George. An Historical Account of the Campaign in the Netherlands, in 1815, Under His Grace the Duke of Wellington, and Marshall Prince Blucher. Comprising the Battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo; with a Detailed Narrative of the Political Events connected with Those Memorable Conflicts Down to the Surrender of Paris and the Departure of Bonaparte for St. Helena... Embellished with a Series of Plates, descriptive of the country between Brussels and Charleroi, from Drawings made on the Spot by James Rouse, Esq. Also a Plan of the Battles , and a Map, shewing the March of the Allied Armies to Paris. London: Printed for Henry Colburn, 1817.

First edition of this story of the fall of Emperor Napoleon I and the victory of the English armies.

Large quarto (12 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches; 324 x 273 mm.). [iii]-xviii, [2, list of plates, errata and directions to the binder], [1]-368 pp. Twenty-eight fine hand colored aquatint plates including the frontispiece and pictorial title.

Folding map "Brussels to Paris", folding plan of the battles printed in black, green and red. All plates with the original tissue guards. Plates watermarked "J. Whatman 1818".

Contemporary full dark blue straight-grain morocco, covers bordered in gilt, smooth spine ruled and lettered in gilt in compartments. With the armorial bookplate of Delapre Abbey and Adrian W. Flühmann on front patse-down. Apart from some light marginal foxing to some text leaves a superb example with wonderful hand coloring.

"Some copies carry a plate 'Waterloo, in Memory of the Heroic Deeds of Shaw of the 1st Life Guards'; this is usually missing. Number 19, 'Portraits of the General Officers', taking its place. No copies were issued with both, and there does not appear to be any evidence that could give either plate priority in issue." (Abbey Life, p. 315).

Four of the plates are entirely by George Cruikshank: the frontispiece portraits of the generals, the illustrated title, the large folded plate depicting the battle of Waterloo and the last plate, "The flight of Napoleon". According to Cohn, all the figures in the other plates are also by him. Cohn, Reid and Douglas say the complete volume with 30 plates (including the engraved illustrated title and the two maps). Only Tooley describes 31 plates, including an additional plate entitled Waterloo, in memory of heroic deeds of Shaw of first life guards, which would generally be missing, which is the case here.

The Plates:

Plate 1. A. The city of Brussels, from the entrance of the Forêt de Soigne, with the Barrier Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 2. B. Entrance to the Forêt de Soigné, where the two roads from Brussels meet Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 3. C. Approach to the village of Waterloo, with the chapel of Waterloo seen in the distance. Rouse delin & sculp.

Plate 4. D. Chapel of Waterloo Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 5. DD. Interior of the Chapel of Waterloo Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 6. E. Headquarters of the Duke of Wellington in the village of Waterloo Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate7. F. Skirt of the Foret de Soigne, with a distant view of the village of Mont St Jean Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 8. G. Part of the village of Mont St Jean Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 9. H. The farm house of Mont St Jean Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 10. I. View of the cottage of Valette Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 11. J. Chateau of Frischermont Rouse delin & sculp.

Plate 12. K. The farm of La Haye Sainte Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 13. L. A front view of the farm of La Haye Sainte Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 14. M. La Belle Alliance, the centre of the French position Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 15. N. Another View of La Belle Alliance Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 16. 0. Another View of La Belle Alliance Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 17. P. Hougoumont View of wood skirting chateau Rouse delin. & sculp:

Plate 18. Q. Hougoumont Burial ground after battle Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 19. R. Hougoumont Interior Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 20. S. Observatory Rouse delin. & sculp.

Plate 21. T. Village of Genappe Rouse sculp. C. C. Hamilton del.

Plate 22. V. Les Quatre Bras Rouse sculp. C. C. Hamilton del.

Plate 23. U. Ligny Castle Rouse sculp. C. C. Hamilton del.

Plate 24. W. The ruins of the village of Ligny Rouse sculp. C. C. Hamilton del.

Plate 25. Y. Flight of Bonaparte from the Field of Waterloo accompanied by his Guide Drawn & Etched G. Cruikshank Rouse sculp.

Plate 26. Portraits of the General Officers 1. The Prince of Orange 2. The Duke of Brunswick 3. The Duke of Wellington 4. Gen. Lord Hill 5. Genl. Sir Thos. Picton 6. Prince Blucher 7. Marquis of Anglesea Drawn & Etched by G. Cruikshank James Rouse sculp.

Plate 27. Fronispiece. Portraits of the General Officers. Drawn & Etched by G. Cruikshank. James Rouse sculp.

Plate 28. p. 1. The Battle of Waterloo Delineated under the inspection of Officers who were present at
memorable conflict. Drawn & Etched by G. Cruikshank James Rouse sculp. (folding).

Plate 29. p. 1. Plan of the Battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras & Waterloo (folding).

Plate 30. p. 1. Map from Brussels to Paris (folding).

Abbey Life, 372; Cohn 580; Prideaux pp. 310 & 345; Tooley 336.