THE PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE REVOLUTION; or, Illustrations, by Pen and Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence

2 volumes. First Edition, later issue. With a fine chromo-lithographic frontispiece in colours of the Military Costume of the Revolution, and eleven hundred engravings on wood by Lossing and Barritt, from original sketches by the author. Thick, Royal 8vo, very handsomely bound in three-quarter calf over diced cloth covered boards, the spine panels with raised bands blind tooled and ruled in dark brown-black, paneled designs in blind with central ornamental devices within the compartments, one compartment with green calf lettering label gilt, another compartment lettered in gilt, marbled endleaves, all edges marbled. xxxii, 783; viii, 772, including index pp. A very handsome set, very well preserved with only minimal evidence of age, the bindings tight and sound and in very good order, the text-blocks clean and bright.

Edizione: an excellent copy of this prodigious work. profusely illustrated throughout with engravings on wood. chromo-lithographic frontispiece to vol. i, engraved frontispiece to vol. ii.<br> ‘in 1835, lossing became part owner and editor of the poughkeepsie telegraph. out of that publication grew a semi-monthly literary paper, the poughkeepsie casket, which lossing helped illustrate with wood engravings.<br> he moved to new york city in 1838 seeking greater opportunity as a journalist and illustrator. in 1846, he joined william barritt in a wood engraving business that became one of the largest of such firms in new york. his illustrations appeared in the new york mirror and several other periodicals. during this time, lossing sat for a portrait by thomas seir cummings (1804–1894), now in the collection of the metropolitan museum of art, new york city.<br> around 1848, lossing conceived the idea of writing a narrative sketchbook on the american revolution. the first installment was published in harper's new monthly magazine in 1850; the completed pictorial field-book of the revolution was published in 1853. to gather material for the work, lossing traveled some 8,000 miles throughout the united states and canada. as with his subsequent books, his pen and ink drawings served as the primary illustrations. the book won him critical acclaim and general reputation. during and after the civil war, lossing toured the united states and the once confederacy. on the basis of that research, he published his three-volume pictorial field book/history of the war. this work is also presumed to be mathew brady's first collaboration in the use of his civil war photographs as book illustrations.