Baron Eben, Observations on Riflemen, manuscript in English, c. 1802, half green morocco

EBEN, FREDERIC, BARON

Observations on the utility of good Riflemen both in Infantry & Cavalry, with Instructions for Acquiring the Art of taking a good Aim, And description of Targets [...] To which is added A Short Manual Exercise for Mounted Chasseurs as well as for Dragoons or Hussars, who are Armed with Rifle Pieces [...] Translated from the Original German Manuscript Under the Inspection of the Author. With 21 Plates. c. 1802

manuscript in English, fair copy in a single hand, text within engraved margins, 86 pages, with an additional 21 hand-coloured engraved plates (most signed "Merke") with manuscript captions, paper watermarked 1797, 4to, contemporary half green morocco over marbled boards, binding rubbed, nicks to some plates, some discolouring

A MANUSCRIPT FROM THE ROYAL LIBRARY OF THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. Frederic, Baron Eben (b. 1773), was a Silesian nobleman who trained in the Prussian military. He entered the English service in 1800 and wrote this manual when he received a commission in the 10th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Light Dragoons in 1802. He went on to fight in the Peninsular War in the Portuguese service, and in the 1820s served in South America under Bolivar. Another copy of this manuscript, with the plates, is in the Royal Armories Collection (EBEN 1).

PROVENANCE:

William, Duke of Clarence (later King William IV), bookplate (WH within Garter, coronet above); his natural son George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster (1794-1842), booklabel ("Col. Fitz Clarence"), armorial bookplate, and gilt stamp on spine; Sidney Young, armorial bookplate; acquired by Thomas, 3rd Baron Cottesloe, in 1930