First edition of this remarkable series of images from the Crimean War, by the "pioneer war-artist" William Simpson, the complete First and Second Series with two lithographed vignette title pages and 79 large folio tinted lithographs—tinted in two colors—in attractive contemporary morocco.

"After the Crimean war broke out Simpson was engaged upon views of the Baltic battles for Colnaghi & Son; and when that firm decided to publish a large illustrated work on the Crimean campaign from sketches made on the spot, Simpson was selected for the work on Day’s recommendation. He started on short notice, arrived at Balaclava in November 1854, and remained with the British army till the fall of Sebastopol.

Simpson was thus the pioneer war-artist, and received several commissions to paint incidents in the war for the queen. The Seat of War in the East was published in two volumes by Colnaghi in 1855-6, and is still regarded as a brilliant example of lithographic work" (DNB). "These plates are indeed an impressive piece of work, not only artistically and technically, but also as pictorial reporting. Simpson must in this way rank as an early war correspondent" (Abbey).

Simpson covered one of the first wars to be documented extensively in written reports, drawings and even photographs. News correspondence reaching Britain from the Crimea was the first time the public could follow the day-to-day realities of war. Both series were published in ten parts, each part containing four plates, except the last part of the second series, which contained five plates, including the lithographed title page. This work was also issued with the plates hand-colored.

Common to have the first and second series of this work to be bound together in the same volume.

Cover title: Simpson's Sketches at the Seat of War

Lithographs by London : Day & Son.

[12] p., xl leaves of plates: ill. 2 v. in 1. 1st & 2nd series.

References:

Abbey Travel 237.


1. Front Cover
10. Sebastopol from the Rear of the English Batteries.
11. Key to "Charge of the Heavy Cavalry Brigade" 25th Octr. 1854.
12. Charge of the Heavy Cavalry Brigade. 25th Octr. 1854.
13. Key to "Second Charge of the Guards When They Retook the Two Gun Battery at the Battle of Inkerman"
14. Second Charge of the Guards When They Retook the Two Gun Battery at the Battle of Inkermann.
15. Lord Raglan's Head Quarters at Khutor-Karagatch.
16. Key to "Distant View of Lord Raglan's Head Quarters Before Sebastopol"
17. Distant View of Lord Raglan's Head Quarters Before Sebastopol.
18. A Quiet Day in the Diamond Battery. Portrait of a Lancaster 68 Pounder. 15th Decr. 1854.
19. Key to "The Field of Inkerman."
2. Title Page - First Series
20. The Field of Inkermann.
21. Sentinel of the Zouaves, Before Sevastopol
22. Commissariat Difficulties. The Road from Balaklava to Sevastopol, at Kadikoi, During the Wet Weather.
23. Key to "The Graves in the Fort on Cathcart's Hill of the Officers 4th Division Who Fell at Inkerman"
24. The Graves in the Fort on Cathcart's Hill. Of the Officers 4th Division Who Fell at Inkermann.
25. Key to "The Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade" 25th Oct. 1854.
26. Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade. 25th Oct. 1854.
27. Huts and Warm Clothing for the Army.
28. Key to the "Camp of the Naval Brigade Before Sebastopol"
29. Camp of the Naval Brigade, Before Sebastopol.
3. [Publisher's Dedication of Simpson's Sketches to Queen Victoria]
30. Key to "The Camp of the 1st Division."
31. The Camp of the 1st Division Looking North Towards the Camp of the 2nd Division, the Heights of Inkermann in the Distance.
32. Key to Sebastopol from the 26 Gun Battery on the Extreme Right of French Attack.
33. Sebastopol from the 26 Gun Battery on the Extreme Right of French Attack.
34. Key to "Head of the Harbour, Sebastopol."
35. Head of the Harbour, Sebastopol.
36. Graves at the Head of the Harbour of Balaklava.
37. Key to "Sebastopol from the Sea."
38. Sebastopol from the Sea. Sketched from the Deck of the H.M.S. Sidon.
39. Embarkation of the Sick at Balaklava.
4. Key to "The Cavalry Affair of the Heights of Bulcanak - The First Gun"
40. A Quiet Night in the Batteries. A Sketch in the Greenhill Battery (Major Chapman's) 29th Jany. 1855.
41. The Camp of the Second Division, Looking East. January 1855.
42. The Ruins of Inkermann and City of Caverns.
43. Key to "Highland Brigade Camp, Looking South."
44. Highland Brigade Camp, Looking South.
45. The Railway at Balaklava Looking South.
46. Key to "The New Works at the Siege of Sebastopol on the Right Attack."
47. The New Works at the Siege of Sebastopol on the Right Attack, from the Mortar Battery on the Right of Gordon's Battery.
48. Key to "A Christmas Dinner on the Heights Before Sebastopol." 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.
49. A Christmas Dinner on the Heights Before Sebastopol.
5. The Cavalry Affair of the Heights of Bulganak - The First Gun. 19th Sepr. 1854.
50. Key to "Sebastopol from the East or Extreme Right of English Attack."
51. Sebastopol from the East or Extreme Right of English Attack.
52. Key to "View from the Heights above Balaklava, Looking Towards Sebastopol."
53. View from the Heights Above Balaklava, Looking Towards Sebastopol, Shewing the Ground of the Battles of the 25th Octr. and the 5th Novr. 1854.
54. Excavated Church in the Caverns at Inkermann. Looking West.
55. Key to "A Hot Day in the Batteries."
56. A Hot Day in the Batteries.
57. A Hot Night in the Batteries.
58. The Valley of the Shadow of Death. Caves in the Woronzoff Road Behind the 21 Gun Battery.
59. Russian Rifle Pit. Now Part of the British Advanced Trenches, on the Left of the Right Attack, or Gordon's Battery.
6. Balaklava, Looking towards the Sea.
60. Prince Woronzoff's Palace near Yalta on the South Coast of the Crimea.
61. The Monastery of St. George and Cape Fiolente. Looking West.
62. The Light-House at Cape Chersonese. Looking South.
63. Back Cover
7. Key to "The Gale off the Port of Balaklava 14th Novr. 1854."
8. The Gale off the Port of Balaklava. 14th Nov. 1854.
9. Key to "Sebastopol from the Rear of the English Batteries."