ROBERT STEVENSON'S FLAG CHART
[Six engraved strips of flags, including naval and other maritime ensigns, opening with the British Standard, and closing with the 'Dutch New Colours' and the 'Dutch Ensign' of the Batavian Republic].
[s.i.].
[s.n,, s.d., but c.1795]
Six engraved strips of hand-coloured flags, mounted to form a 12pp book. Marbled wrappers, chipped to spine and corners. Robert Stevenson's copy, boldly inscribed 'Robert Stevenson' to lower wrapper; from the recently dispersed remains of the Stevenson family library.
Scottish civil engineer and lighthouse-builder Robert Stevenson's (1772- 1850) copy of a finely engraved, hand-coloured pocket guide to the flags of all nations, with particular emphasis on naval ensigns, including the flags of various European, African, Asian and North American nations.
Leading with the British Standard suggests a British origin; although a proportion of the images are also captioned in French, suggesting that the unnamed publisher - or at least the engraver - was likely appealing to a wider audience.
Whilst absent any imprint information, the detail of this chart indicates a mid- 1790s production; the flag of the United States features thirteen stars on a blue field, which was correct between the passing of the 1777 Flag Act by the Second Continental Congress, until it was superseded by the fifteen-star variety in 1794, upon the admission of Kentucky and Vermont to the Union. Similarly, the two final flags, of the 'Dutch new Colours' and 'Dutch Ensign', illustrate the designs adopted by the Batavian Republic, in 1795, featuring the Netherlands Maiden.
£ 1,250.00
Antiquates Ref: 31283
Leading with the British Standard suggests a British origin; although a proportion of the images are also captioned in French, suggesting that the unnamed publisher - or at least the engraver - was likely appealing to a wider audience.
Whilst absent any imprint information, the detail of this chart indicates a mid- 1790s production; the flag of the United States features thirteen stars on a blue field, which was correct between the passing of the 1777 Flag Act by the Second Continental Congress, until it was superseded by the fifteen-star variety in 1794, upon the admission of Kentucky and Vermont to the Union. Similarly, the two final flags, of the 'Dutch new Colours' and 'Dutch Ensign', illustrate the designs adopted by the Batavian Republic, in 1795, featuring the Netherlands Maiden.
