1869 WAR OF 1812 U.S. MILITARY HISTORY WASHINGTON D.C. GREAT LAKES NAVY BATTLES For Sale

PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE WAR OF 1812, Or, By Illustrations of Pen and Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics and Traditions of the Last War for American Independence. By Benson J. Lossing. Published in 1869 by Harper & Bros., New York. 10\" x 7\" red leather binding with lavish gilt decoration. Illustrated by \"Several Hundred Engravings On Wood.\" 1083 pages.

About This Book:
Benson J. Lossing’s PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE WAR OF 1812 is one of the great monuments of 19th-century American historical publishing – a sweeping, richly illustrated chronicle that combines documentary rigor with the aesthetic pleasures of a finely produced mid-Victorian volume.Lossing, already celebrated for his earlier Revolutionary War field-book, approached the War of 1812 with the same blend of narrative clarity, patriotic sentiment and exhaustive firsthand research, traveling extensively to battle sites, interviewing descendants of participants, and gathering artifacts, sketches and local histories.The result is a work that remains a cornerstone for collectors ofAmericanaand earlyU.S.military history.Lossing’s narrative stands out for its breadth and immediacy.He traces the conflict from its political origins through its major campaigns – the Great Lakes, the Canadian frontier, the Chesapeake, the South and the naval war – weaving together military analysis, eyewitness accounts, biographical sketches, and regional detail.Lossing’s emphasis on place and memory gives the book a documentary vividness unmatched by later, more academic histories.For collectors, it represents one of the earliest attempts to create a comprehensive, illustrated national memory of the War of 1812, produced at a moment when many veterans were still alive and sites remained largely unchanged.Lossing structures the work as a continuous journey through the war’s geography and chronology.He moves fluidly between:* Major campaigns* Biographical sketches* Regional histories* Political backgroundThis travelogue style gives the book a sense of movement and discovery, allowing readers to follow Lossing as he visits forts, battlefield, homesteads and memorial sites.The narrative is both accessible and expansive, suitable for general readers and serious historians alike.THE PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE WAR OF 1812 is famous for its hundreds of wood-engraved illustrations, all drawn by Lossing himself, and cut by the master J.W. Orr.These images include:* Battlefield views* Portraits of Officers* Maps and Strategic Diagrams* Architectural and Landscape SketchesThe illustrations are not merely decorative; they form a parallel narrative that documents the physical world of the war as Lossing encountered it.For collectors, the sheer volume and quality of the engravings make the book one of the most visually satisfying works of 19th-century American history.Most desirable copies – such as this one – retain the tinted frontispiece engraving, often printed in pale color washes.This plate sets the tone for the volume’s visual program.Its presence enhances the book’s value, as these early tinted engravings were both costly to produce and prone to removal over time.The Binding:Surviving copies in red leather bindings with gilt decoration are especially prized.The boards carry the deep, saturated crimson typical of mid-19th-century deluxe bindings, while the spine is fully gilt-tooled with titles and ornamental compartments.The front cover is emblazoned with a distinctive patriotic motif: Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry standing before the famous battle flag emblazoned with the motto: “Don’t Give Up the Ship” commemorating his command at the Battle of Lake Erie.The combination of rich color, bright gilt and historical iconography gives the volume a commanding shelf presence and makes it one of the most visually impressive editions of Lossing’s works.
Get your own free counter at Auctiva
Try Auctiva free for 30 days, no credit card required