1816 The Poet’s Pilgrimage to Waterloo by Robert Southey | Contemporary Half Calf | Complete with 8 Engraved Plates
Published just one year after the Battle of Waterloo, The Poet’s Pilgrimage to Waterloo offers Robert Southey’s thoughtful poetic journey through the landscapes forever marked by Napoleon’s final defeat. Written following Southey’s own visit to the battlefield in 1815, the work blends travel narrative, history, and Romantic verse while reflecting upon the triumph, sacrifice, and enduring consequences of war. This 1816 stated Second Edition (commonly recognized bibliographically as the first edition, second issue) is complete with its engraved frontispiece and seven additional engraved views depicting Waterloo and surrounding sites visited by the author. These finely executed illustrations provide a visual companion to Southey’s account, capturing churches, villages, and battle-scarred landscapes little changed in the immediate aftermath of one of Europe’s most significant military conflicts. The volume is beautifully bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, featuring an elegantly gilt-decorated spine with black morocco title labels and an armorial bookplate belonging to an early owner. The leather and richly patterned marbled boards create a handsome presentation, equally suited to a collector’s library or as a distinguished decorative display. Condition: Very Good Contemporary half calf binding over marbled boards with decorative gilt spine and black morocco title labels. Binding remains firm and sound. Complete with engraved frontispiece and seven additional engraved plates. Pages are generally clean with light age toning and scattered light foxing typical of the period, somewhat heavier around a few of the engraved plates. Armorial bookplate of an early owner to the front pastedown along with historical ownership inscriptions. A handsome, well-preserved copy. Size: 4” x 6 3/4” A wonderful addition for collectors of Napoleonic history, Romantic literature, military history, finely bound books, and early nineteenth-century travel narratives.