A Description of Gibraltar, with An Account of the Blockade, Siege, the Attempt by Nine Sail of Fire-Ships, the Sally made from the Garrison, and every Thing remarkable of worthy Notice that has occurred in that Place since the Commencement of the Spanish War: Likewise The vast Importance of this valuable Fortress to Great Britain clearly stated and explained.

1782. London, Printed for B. Cornwell, 1782. 8vo. Stitched as issued, entirely uncut, mid 20th-century grey cloth; pp. [ii], 52, engraved frontispiece, bound without final advertisement leaf for an 'oriental vegetable cordial'; small central stab hole, frayed edges: povenance: ink stamp of an artillery school on rear paste-down, recent armorial bookplate inside front cover of Cefntilla, the family seat of the Barons Raglan. Extremely rare first edition. This publication, instigated by the Admiralty, combines a thorough description of the British possession with a very detailed blow-by-blow account of the Great Siege of Gibraltar, the thwarted attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. Provenance: Following the death of Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788-1855), commander of allied forces during the Crimean War, 1,623 of his friends, admirers, and comrades purchased the estate of Cefntilla Court in Monmouthshire Wales, presenting the home to Richard Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan (1817-1884) and his heirs in perpetuity as a memorial in remembrance of his father's contribution to the British military. ESTC T72995.