A narrative of the Peninsular campaign, 1807-1814: its battles and sieges. Abridged from “The History of the War” . . . illustrations in permanent photography. by [NAPOLEON]. NAPIER, Sir W.[illiam] F.[rancis] P.[atrick]; DOBSON, William T - 1889.

London: Bickers & Son, Leicester Square, 1889. 8vo. [10], 408 pp. Black & white mounted Woodbury-type photo, nine mounted Woodbury-type photos, 1 folding colour map. Full calf publisher’s prize binding from St. Peter’s College, Radley, raised bands, gilt decorated spine, gilt outer dentelles, Radley College’s lozenge medal in gilt on both covers, marbled endpapers (minor rubbing, slight scuffing), still VG bright copy, awarded to J.F. Elwes in 1892 for honors in history, and from the collection of Christian A. von Hassell. First edition, thus, of this concise abridgement of Napier’s classic history of the famed campaigns in Spain, Portugal, and the south of France during the Napoleonic Wars, augmented with Woodbury-type photographs taken from painting of the battles. This rousing eyewitness account is dedicated to Wellington, and provides one of the best specimens of military history in any language, detailing the long series of campaigns and battles with the imagination of a great romantic writer. Napier (1785-1860) entered the Royal Irish Artillery in 1800, later transferred to the 43rd and then the 42nd Infantry where he was wounded a number of times, and fought at the retreat to Corunna, marched to Talavera in the famous forced march, and aided in the pursuit of Massena.