A major historical work written by Admiral Sir H W Richmond with the signature of a twentieth century member of the SuffRen family and lovingly annotated by the same in reference to the French Admiral’s exploits. The book provides a study of the policy governing the naval forces in India and the operations conducted in the wars between 1763 and 1783. Interestingly, many of the facts within this volume have been very heavily annotated with 100s of handwritten detailed corrections and errata to the text. Multiple facts, dates, spellings and figures have been amended both within the text and the footnotes. Particular attention has been paid to any reference to Vice Admiral Pierre André de Suffren who fought against British Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes in numerous battles to command the Indian Ocean. Passages including de Suffren’s name are underlined and edited throughout and a note of page numbers which include mention of him but have not been included in the index are handwritten to the front free endpaper. Additionally, handwritten to the free endpaper is the previous ownership signature and a date, ‘C. Suffren 18. Iii. 31’. Presumably in the hand of a descendent of Pierre Andre de Suffren?
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
First Edition in good condition. Green cloth covered boards sunned to spine and top edges. Titled in gilt to spine and decoratively to front board. Front endpapers contain numerous handwritten notes presumably made by C Suffren detailing errata and corrections to specific page numbers made within the leaves of the volume. To the top front free endpaper the name and date ‘C. Suffren 18.iii.31’ is written in black ink. Bookseller’s label attached to front pastedown reads ‘Marine Books. Hoylake.’ Rear endpapers clean. Front flyleaves a little age spotted. Frontispiece depicts a map titled ‘India, From Bombay to Ganjam’. Neat, pencil written notes and amendments to text throughout. Two fold out b/w maps: Plan of Trincomali and the Landing under Admiral Suffren; Southern India. Both in very good condition. A unique and very sound copy.
