Hungarian & Highland Broad Sword [Together with] the Original Pen, Ink and Watercolor for the Nineteenth Plate

London: H. Angelo, 1799. A Superb Example in A Contemporary Binding With the Extra Plate "The Guards-" and the Original Pen, Ink & Watercolor for the Nineteenth Plate [ROWLANDSON, T[homas], illustrator. [ANGELO, Henry]. Hungarian & Highland Broad Sword. Twenty Four Plates, designed and etched by T. Rowlandson, under the Direction of Messrs. H. Angelo and Son, Fencing Masters to the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster dedicated to Colonel Herries. London: Published-by H. Angelo, February 12, 1799. First edition. Pictorial hand colored aquatint title-page and twenty-four hand colored aquatint plates - including the rare additional plate "The Guards of the Highland Broadsword as taught by Mr. H. Angelo's Academy [dated] Jany. 20th, 1799." Oblong folio (11 7/8 x 16 inches; 302 x 406 mm.). iii, [1, blank] pp. Hand colored aquatint title-page and twenty-three hand colored aquatint plates with imprint date Sept. 1, 1798 (except plates 9 and 10, with no imprint). Plate no. 17 with no date. Plates watermarked "J. Whatman, 1794." Bound without the 3 page list of subscribers. Small 3/4 inch tear on top blank margin of plate no. 8; small 2 inch tear on lower blank margin of plate no. 11 - just touching plate border, small 7/8 inch tear on lower blank margin of plate no. 23, and small 1 inch tear on lower blank margin of plate no. 25. Also plate no. 24 is 3/8 inch short at the lower margin. All the aforementioned tears have been neatly repaired. Bound ca. 1800 in full red morocco, covers decoratively bordered in gilt, smooth spine with elaborate circular gilt ornaments, gilt decorated board edges, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Spine tips and extremities slightly rubbed. This is a near fine copy in a contemporary binding complete with the rare additional "Guard-" plate and the original pen, ink & watercolor for the nineteenth plate in the book (see below). The additional plate (here as no 20) referred to as “The Guards and Lessons of the Highland Broadsword” or simply “The Guards,” depicts the principal defensive and offensive positions used in Highland broadsword fencing. It features multiple figures in dynamic poses, arranged in a grid format, with each figure demonstrating a distinct guard or technique. Comprising ten lessons (also called “ten divisions”), the plate illustrates core fencing positions both on foot and on horseback. Published separately in 1799 by Henry Angelo, it was issued in addition to the standard series of twenty-four aquatint plates. Together with: The original pen, ink and watercolor for the nineteenth plate in the book, titled by Thomas Rowlandson on lower left "Together with: The original pen, ink and watercolor for the nineteenth plate in the book, titled by Thomas Rowlandson on lower left "On the Right to the Front, Parry, against bayonet" [in the book the plate is titled "On the Right to the Front, Parry, against Infantry."" [in the book the plate is titled "On the Right to the Front, Parry, against Infantry." A superb watercolor that would have served as the direct working model for the engraving, making it an integral part of the plate-making process. Image size (8 3/8 x 11 inches; 212 x 280 mm.). Matted, framed and glazed - frame size (16 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches; 412 x 477 mm.). Provenance: The Harcourt Johnstone collection. With provenance from Harcourt Johnstone’s collection, it likely passed through the mid-20th century Sotheby’s dispersals (notably 1951 or 1953 sales). His collection was known for drawings and watercolors of superb quality and condition. Thomas Rowlandson often prepared finished watercolors before engraving plates, particularly for high-profile commissions like Hungarian and Highland Broadsword (1798–1799), produced for Henry Angelo. Original Rowlandson watercolors from this series are exceedingly scarce. Most surviving examples are in institutional collections (e.g. British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art). "With foreign invasion threatening our shores, martial ardour was the keynote of the year 1799, and subscribers were readily found for the Hungarian and Highland Broadsword Exercise.. The twenty-four plates in coloured aquatint show military exercises and movements of cavalry, but the single figures in the foreground, illustrating sword exercises, are relieved and animated by the introduction in the background of various skirmishes, assaults, and battle-scenes, so that the plates lose all sense of formality. In the general liveliness of the picture you forget that the two central figures illustrate 'cut two, and horse's off side protect, new guard,' and other formulae of broadsword exercise, just as for the nonce in a stage duel you forget that cut, thrust and parry are planned, rehearsed, and mechanical" (Hardie). "Valuable as a record of the military life and costume of the time" (Prideaux). The Plates: 1. Title-page. (dated Feby. 12th, 1799) 2. Prepare to Guard. (watermarked 1794) 3. Guard. (watermarked 1794) 4. Horses Head, Near Side, Protect. 5. Off Side Protect, New Guard. 6. Left Protect. 7. Right Protect. 8. Bridle Arm Protect. (small 3/4 inch tear on top blank margin) 9. Sword Arm Protect. 10. St. George's Guard. 11. Thigh Protect, New Guard. (small 2 inch tear on lower blank margin - just touching plate border) 12. Give Point, and Left Parry. (watermarked 1794) 13. Cut One, and Bridle Arm Protect. 14. Cut Two & Right Protect. 15. Cut One and Horses Head near Side, Protect. 16. Cut Six, and Sword Arm Protect. (watermarked 1794) 17. Cut Two and Horse's Off Side Protect, New Guard. (watermarked 1794) 18. Cut One, and Thigh Protect, New Guard. 19. On the Right to the Front, Parry, against Infantry. (watermarked 1794) 20* The Guards of the Highland Broadsword as taught by Mr. H. Angelo's Academy. (dated Jany. 20th, 1799) 21. Outside Guard; St. George's Guard; Inside Guard. 22. Outside Half Hanger; Hanging Guard; Inside Half Hanger. 23. Half Circle Guard; Medium Guard. (watermarked 1794) (small 7/8 inch tear on lower blank margin) 24. The Consequence of not shifting the Leg. (plate 3/8 inch short at lower margin) 25. The Advantage of Shifting the Leg. (watermarked 1794) (small 1 inch tear on lower blank margin) Grolier/Rowlandson 10. Tooley 414. Colas, 2587. Hiler, p. 762. Martin Hardie, pp. 164-165 and 315. Falk, p.212. Prideaux, p. 225. .

ROWLANDSON, Thomas; ANGELO, Henry - Hungarian & Highland Broad Sword [Together with] the Original Pen, Ink and Watercolor for the Nineteenth Plate