£500
12mo, pp. [xvi], 277, [11, ads]. Untrimmed in modern quarter calf, marbled boards, spine divided by double blind rules, red morocco label. A little soiled and marked internally. Presentation inscription to flyleaf: ‘James Carruthers, Edinb. June 1st 1843, To George Carruthers, Waterhead’.
A rare Napoleonic gunner's manual, first published in 1801 and reaching a 7th edition by 1813. Captain Adye was himself a gunner in the Royal Artillery and gathered 'this small collection of military memorandums [...] only for the compiler's own pocket; to assist him in the execution of his duty: but it occurred to him, that many of his military friends stood in equal need of such an aid, and would willingly give a few shillings for what they would not be at the trouble of collecting.' Intended for battlefield use and compact enough to fit a soldier's pocket, few copies of any printing have survived, with this 4th edition recorded in Library Hub at the BL alone.
