1783 1st SAMLING AF SVENSKA ARMÉNS UNIFORMER SWEDEN Army Uniforms HAND COLORED
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1783 1st SAMLING AF SVENSKA ARMÉNS UNIFORMER SWEDEN Army Uniforms HAND COLORED :
$8999.99
[zipedit]SAMLING AF SVENSKA ARMÉNS UNIFORMER
\'Collection of Swedish Army Uniforms\' (1783)Impressed with Personal Monogram of Sweden\'s King Gustav IV
Written & Designed by C.G. Roos / Engravings by Johan Snack
1783 leather bound copy of \"Samling af svenska arméns uniformer\" or \"A Collection of Swedish Army Uniforms\". Features hand colored engravings of each Swedish uniform by Johan Snack.
The front and back boards are embossed in gold with the personal monogram of Sweden\'s King Gustav IV Adolph (reigning 1778-1809) and the three crowns of the Swedish monarchy.
A very rare and exceedingly important copy depicting the various Swedish army uniforms - all hand colored. The text is written in both Swedish and French.
There are only a few copies known to exist, two being held by major libraries in Stockholm. This copy would have either come directly from the king\'s library or would have been presented as a gift to a military officer, dignitary or person of influence of the time.
KING GUSTAV IV ADOLPH(b.1756-1788)
The doomed king took the Swedish throne in 1800 and immediately introduced a rigorous corporalism in all military matters; his attention to military uniforms became most amusing. Once a general was arrested on the charge that he had walked the streets in a simple round hat and a civilian coat. Military uniforms were constantly changed and improved, ending in the confusing situation historians currently face when attempting to research uniformology of the war of 1808-09.
Gustav IV Adolf set his sights on defeating Napoleon and the French revolution which brought Sweden into the Napoleonic wars, waging an unsuccessful campaign against Franco-Dutch invaders in Swedish Pomerania.
The war against Russia in 1808-09 became a massive Swedish defeat, and would lead to Gustav IV\'s fall. Nonetheless, he saw himself as a great general and even appeared in the uniform of Charles XII to prove that. Following an embarrassing Coup d\'Etat in March, 1809, Gustav was arrested by conspirators and imprisoned in Gripsholm castle while a new government was formed in Stockholm. By December 1809 he was exiled from Sweden, living the rest of his days unhappily moving around Europe, eventually dying in Switzerland, under the name of Colonel Gustafsson, in 1837.
ENGRAVINGS BY JOHAN SNACK (b.1756-1788)
Snack\'s work appears in the form of book illustrations in the 18th century including portraits of Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf\'s godparents and of King Gustaf III, this book is perhaps Snack\'s best piece of work.
CONDITION
Wear to extremities, front endpaper slightly loose but holding. Some of the illustrations have thumb marks and foxing, generally in good order with the odd overlapping of coloring. Names of uniforms have been tipped in to the bottom of each illustration, two of which have been removed. Binding holding tight and in good overall condition Please view all pictures below to evaluate condition of each page.
An Extremely Unique Piece of Sweden\'s Military History
No records of another being sold at sale.
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1783 1st SAMLING AF SVENSKA ARMÉNS UNIFORMER SWEDEN Army Uniforms HAND COLORED :
$8999.99