Reinagle, George Philip.

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Illustrations of the Battle of Navarin. London: Colnaghi & Son, 1828, 12 lithographed plates by Reinagle and one plan, all printed on india paper and mounted, printed list of subscribers and "Reference to the plates" (both with margins extended to size), original lithographed upper wrapper with title and vignette
paper

Ibid. Illustrations of the Occurrences at the Entrance of the Bay of Patras between the English Squadron & Turkish Fleets from the 1^{st October to the 6^{th 1827. London: Colnaghi & Son, [1828], 6 lithographed plates by Reinagle and one plan, printed leaf "Reference to the plates", original lithographed upper wrapper with title and vignette}}

2 works in one volume, folio (475 x 325mm.), the plates all coloured by hand, bound in contemporary diced calf, binding slightly rubbed, corners bumped, head and foot of spine worn with some loss

Literature

Blackmer 1403 (Italian edition) and 1402; Droulia 1531 and 1532

Catalogue Note

The destruction of the allied Turkish-Egyptian fleet at the Battle of Navarino effectively ended Ottoman resistance to Greek independence. The battle was fought in Navarino Bay, on the west coast of the Peloponnese, on 20 October 1827. The British-French-Russian fleet was commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Edward Codrington (1770-1851), a supremely brave naval officer possessing nearly half a century's experience and a sulphurous temper. After the skirmish at Patras Bay, Codrington entered Navarino Bay on 18 October and faced the Ottoman fleet. Although outnumbered and gunned (1258 guns against 2180), Codrington's fleet was generally better equipped and vastly better trained. By early afternoon the Turks' attempt to launch a fire-ship precipitated a full-scale battle which raged for some four hours. By late afternoon the Ottoman fleet was all but destroyed: of the 78 ships that had entered the fray, only eight left in a seaworthy state. Not a single Allied vessel was destroyed.

Reinagle witnessed the battle from HM Sloop Mosquito, and also produced a number of oil paintings depicting various stages of the battle.

It is very unusual to find these two works bound together. We have only traced two copies at auction in the last 35 years, both uncoloured. The list of subscribers, which is not always present, includes many who took part and the ships they served in.