First edition. Quarto. Three volumes, one of a small number of publisher's special presentation bindings by Cedric Chivers in full blue morocco with a vellucent panel to the front board of each volume depicting a sailing ship. Boards and spine stamped in black and gilt. All edges gilt. Inscribed by the author in volume one to Queen Alexandra, mother of King George V to whom the book was dedicated, "To / Her Most Gracious Majesty / Queen Alexandra / This Work / By the Gracious permission of Her Majesty / is Presented / By / Her obedient Humble Servant / The Author / Halton Stirling Lecky / Lieutenant Royal Navy / 19 August 1913" Three photogravure frontispieces and fifteen colour plates under captioned tissue guards. Many black and white illustrations throughout. A near fine set, with slight fading to the spine and a little wear to the spine and corner of volume one.

Princess Alexandra (1844-1925) of Denmark married Queen Victoria's son, Edward Albert in 1863, and following Victoria's death in 1901 became Queen Consort to the newly crowned Edward VII, a position she held until her husband's death and son's coronation as George V in 1911. It is to George V that this work is dedicated, being the reigning monarch at the time of publication.
Halton Stirling Lecky was a Lieutenant in the Navy, who in 1901 was awarded the Albert Medal, the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society and the Lloyds Silver Medal, all for bravery during the Boer War in single handedly rescuing two colleagues from a capsized vessel. During WWI he created the Auxiliary Patrol Service of 3000 vessels against enemy submarines
(1914-16), was Assistant to Naval Secretary to First Lord of the Admiralty (1917-18) and mentioned in despatches and awarded the Order of the Redeemer (Greece) and Legion of Honour (France) for duties in connection with the war operations of these navies in the Aegean.
The King's Ships was the most ambitious work on the history of naval ship, it was intended to run to six volumes but the publishing was suspended owing to the outbreak of war in 1914. It is claimed that the manuscript for the remaining three volumes existed but was lost when left on a train. The ships covered in the three published volumes, from Aboukir to Jupiter and include some 2500 vessels.

Medley - Bibliography of British History 1670

Stock ID: 29074