The British Trident; or, Register of Naval Actions.
Duncan, Archibald.
( 1804-1805), London
12mo; five volumes. Vol I: xxvi & 313pp, 7 engravings; Vol II: 384pp, 11 engravings; Vol III: 380pp (pages 73-108, dealing with activities in 1783, are missing, and quite obviously, never bound into this volume), 7 engravings; Vol IV: 324pp, 18 engravings, (5, index) & (1, Directions for the plates & errata); Vol V: iv, (5)-350pp, 10 engravings, (7, index) & a single terminal advertisement page. In all 53 engraved plates of naval actions.
Price: $850
These volumes summarize events from the 16th to the beginning of the 19th centuries, with general information on the size, rating complement and armament of British naval ships of all sizes. With detailed accounts of naval actions from 1748 to 1805. Many statistics are given, contemporary narratives and reports quoted. A good source of information, and a good source of illustration, with richly engraved portraits, views and battle scenes. Scarce, not in NMM or British Museum catalogs or John Carter Brown handlist. Uniformly and handsomely bound in full contemporary tree calf, gilt nautical spine decorations, green and red labels and marbled endpapers.