December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
[Manuscript]. "Peculiarities in the Drill of the 52nd Regt: Lt: Infy: as ordered by Sir John Moore K.B. &c &c." 56 pp. A "blank booklet" of c. 1803, string-bound, 6 5/8 c 4 1/4 in. with period calf wrapped over the original blue paper and glued down. Approximately 2/3rds of the leaves are filled with ink text in a fine clerical hand, the remainder blank. The text appears to be the manuscript draft of a manual, possibly intended for publication or the master copy kept by the commanding officer or regimental adjutant. It covers the new modifications to British infantry drill first introduced into Sir John Moore's 52nd Regiment of Foot when it was converted into a standing regiment of light infantry during the Napoleonic Wars. The modified manual of arms and maneuvers recorded herein were those first introduced at Moore's famous Camp of Instruction at Shorncliffe in 1803, but previously unknown to scholars; no other copy or notice of such a work has been cited in all the leading books or studies published over the last two centuries to date on Sir John Moore's system of light infantry training. Acquired from Paul Fortier in 2002. CONDITION: Very good, with pages bright and clean; cover separating from booklet and has edge wear and chipping to the fold, otherwise fine.