Military campaign in the West Indies

Author

GARDINER, Richard.

Title

An account of the expedition to the West Indies,
against Martinico, with the reduction of Guadelupe, and other the Leeward Islands; subject to the French King, 1759. [WITH] Relation de l'expedition aux Indes Occidentales, contre la Martinique, avec la reduction de la Guadelupe, et autres Isles sous Vent, appartenant au Roi de France, en 1759.

Published, Date

Birmingham : printed by John Baskerville, for G. Steidel, London, 1762.

Description

Third edition, 4to., 2 parts (English and French texts), 4to (236 x 207mm.), [6], 91, [1]; [6], 91, [1]pp., half-titles, 4 engraved plates (2 folding), contemporary tree calf, roll-tooled border gilt on covers, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece, a fine copy. Provenance: Lt. General G.L. Parker (armorial bookplate); Earls of Macclesfield (armorial bookplate and blindstamp).

Note

This was a military expedition in which Gardiner commanded a detachment of marines from HMS Rippon in an engagement at St. Pierre, Martinique, and again at the siege of Guadeloupe. On his return to England he published his "unembellished diary of the experiences". The First edition, dedicated to Lord Temple, was published in 1759; the Second was published the following year. This third edition, beautifully printed by Baskerville, was dedicated to the Queen. Amongst Gardiner's other literary accomplishments was his autobiographical novel, The History of Purdica, a Lady of N-rf-lk, with an Account of her Five Lovers, one of whom was 'Dick Merryfellow', identified by his anonymous biographer as Gardiner himself.

References

Gaskell 24 & 25; Sabin 26628 ("a beautiful specimen of typography").

Stock Number

77564