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Moltke, Baron von.
The Russians in Bulgaria and Rumelia in 1828 and 1829; During the Campaigns of the Danube, the Sieges of Brailow, Varna, Silistria, Shumla, and the Passage of the Balkan by Marshal Diebitch [The Earl de Grey and Ripon’s copy].
Publisher: John Murray, Albemarle Street, London;
Date of Publication: 1854
Stock Code: 15384
First English edition, after the German original of 1845. Octavo, pp., vi, [2], 476, plus 12 folding engraved maps to end, as called for (the plate index calls for 13, but maps 1 and 6 are one plate). Contemporary full calf; spine on five raised bands; titled within red leather spine labels; elaborate gilding to compartments; monogram to upper compartment; double fillets in gilt to boards; gilt rolls to edges; all edges marbled; marbled end-papers. Contemporary armorial bookplate of George Frederick Samuel, Earl de Grey and Ripon (1827-1909). Corners bumped; joints, edges and spine rubbed; upper compartment of spine coming away. Light scattered foxing to contents, otherwise clean. A very good copy. An account of the Russian campaigns against the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1828-29), by the Prussian Generalfeldmarschall now remembered as one of the nation’s great tactical geniuses.
The former owner, the Earl de Grey and Ripon, was son of the Prime Minister F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich. Ripon had an extensive parlimentary career in Whig and Liberal governments, and was Viceroy of India between 1880-84. He was a progressive force in India, and is remembered as the liberal viceroy who sowed the seeds of independence for the Raj. Ripon was an anti-imperialist, and believed the role of the Viceroy was to prepare the Raj for self-government. He supported granting Indians more legal rights, he created self-governing authorities across the country led by locals, improved education and labour rights for children, took measures to prevent and record famines, and permitted the publication of works in languages other than English within India. £400.00