Narrative of the Burmese War - Inscribed - Detailing the Operations of Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell’s Army, from its Landing at Rangoon in May 1824, to the Conclusion of a Treaty of Peace at Yandaboo, in February 1826 -
Major J. J. Snodgrass
1827 - John Murray, London - First Edition
Scarce first edition of this important first hand military account of the first Burma war by Sir Archibald Campbell’s Military Secretary and son-in-law, in contemporary binding.
Inscribed by Major Snodgrass 'To His Royal Highness the Duke of York, This volume is most respectfully presented by The Author'.
With a large folding engraved map Burmese Empire [46 x 40 cm], two wood-engraved illustrations titled ‘Bandoola’s Look-Out Tree at Donoobew - Mounting Four Guns’ and ‘Meeting of the British and Burmese Commissioners at Neoun-Ben-Zeik. Principal Figure: The Kee-Wongee’. Major Snodgrass’ full title here as author was ‘Military Secretary to the Commander of the Expedition, and Assistant Political Agent in Ava’.
Lt. Col. John James Snodgrass (1796–1841) began his military career as an ensign in the 52nd Light Infantry in c. 1812-1813, being promoted to lieutenant the following year. His last engagement with the 52nd before being reduced to half-pay was at the Battle of Waterloo. in 1821 he joined the 38th Regiment, where he was eventually appointed as the military secretary to Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet, around about the time that Snodgrass married Sir Archibald Campbell's oldest daughter (1823). Snodgrass was also appointed assistant political agent at Ava, and held both positions throughout the First Anglo-Burmese War. His army career continued - Captain, 91st Argyllshire Highlanders (1825), brevet ranks of Major (1826) and Lieutenant-colonel (1826), Major, 94th Foot (1830), Lieutenant-colonel, unattached (1833), Deputy Quartermaster-General to the troops in Nova Scotia (1834).
Patricia Herbert in her bibliography of Burma notes that ‘the tone of Major Snodgrass’ narrative is fairly typical of British attitudes and accounts of this period. His concluding remarks upon the Burmese king are: ‘let him then vaunt and boast, and let us smile at his harmless vanity and arrogant imbecility. The appendix contains translations of captured Burmese military documents and the text of the Treaty of Yandabo.’
Provenance: Firstly from the library of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, to whom it is inscribed by the author. Later from the collection of marine painter and painter to Queen Victoria, Sir Oswald Walters Brierly (1817-94) with his marvellous engraved bookplate from 1891 by John Leighton featuring a ship and a spouting whale, and the motto on a banner ‘Vouloir c'est pouvoir’ and the text, ‘1615 Marine Painter to Her Majesty’ [see Coles].
References: Herbert, Burma 249. Not in Abbey Travel. Coles, English Book-Plates, 160.
Octavo (book size 23.8x15cm), pp. xii 319 [1]. In publisher’s beige paper spine and blue paper boards, paper spine label lettered in ruled in black, all edges untrimmed. Finely bound in full crimson straight grain morocco, panels with multiple gilt filet blocked border, spine with compartments ruled and decorated in gilt, decorated gilt edges and turn-ins, pink coated endpapers, al edges gilt. Condition: Fine in very good binding, rubbbing to edges and corners, one or two small stains to panels. Ref: 112280 Price: HK$ 10,000
Inscribed by Major Snodgrass 'To His Royal Highness the Duke of York, This volume is most respectfully presented by The Author'.
With a large folding engraved map Burmese Empire [46 x 40 cm], two wood-engraved illustrations titled ‘Bandoola’s Look-Out Tree at Donoobew - Mounting Four Guns’ and ‘Meeting of the British and Burmese Commissioners at Neoun-Ben-Zeik. Principal Figure: The Kee-Wongee’. Major Snodgrass’ full title here as author was ‘Military Secretary to the Commander of the Expedition, and Assistant Political Agent in Ava’.
Lt. Col. John James Snodgrass (1796–1841) began his military career as an ensign in the 52nd Light Infantry in c. 1812-1813, being promoted to lieutenant the following year. His last engagement with the 52nd before being reduced to half-pay was at the Battle of Waterloo. in 1821 he joined the 38th Regiment, where he was eventually appointed as the military secretary to Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet, around about the time that Snodgrass married Sir Archibald Campbell's oldest daughter (1823). Snodgrass was also appointed assistant political agent at Ava, and held both positions throughout the First Anglo-Burmese War. His army career continued - Captain, 91st Argyllshire Highlanders (1825), brevet ranks of Major (1826) and Lieutenant-colonel (1826), Major, 94th Foot (1830), Lieutenant-colonel, unattached (1833), Deputy Quartermaster-General to the troops in Nova Scotia (1834).
Patricia Herbert in her bibliography of Burma notes that ‘the tone of Major Snodgrass’ narrative is fairly typical of British attitudes and accounts of this period. His concluding remarks upon the Burmese king are: ‘let him then vaunt and boast, and let us smile at his harmless vanity and arrogant imbecility. The appendix contains translations of captured Burmese military documents and the text of the Treaty of Yandabo.’
Provenance: Firstly from the library of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, to whom it is inscribed by the author. Later from the collection of marine painter and painter to Queen Victoria, Sir Oswald Walters Brierly (1817-94) with his marvellous engraved bookplate from 1891 by John Leighton featuring a ship and a spouting whale, and the motto on a banner ‘Vouloir c'est pouvoir’ and the text, ‘1615 Marine Painter to Her Majesty’ [see Coles].
References: Herbert, Burma 249. Not in Abbey Travel. Coles, English Book-Plates, 160.
Octavo (book size 23.8x15cm), pp. xii 319 [1]. In publisher’s beige paper spine and blue paper boards, paper spine label lettered in ruled in black, all edges untrimmed. Finely bound in full crimson straight grain morocco, panels with multiple gilt filet blocked border, spine with compartments ruled and decorated in gilt, decorated gilt edges and turn-ins, pink coated endpapers, al edges gilt. Condition: Fine in very good binding, rubbbing to edges and corners, one or two small stains to panels. Ref: 112280 Price: HK$ 10,000