A Military Course for the Government and Conduct of a Battalion,

With royal provenance. From the rebellious conduct of the Americans it appears to me there is a great necessity of publishing something of this kind, for the instruction of the young and unexperienced officer...' (Dedication).

The first edition of Thomas Simes' reference guide containing useful advice on the daily duties of military officers in the British Army, from maintaining discipline, to practical guidance on setting up funeral parties, keeping books, and signalling. Illustrated with 20 hand-coloured engravings across 17 leaves.

With notable provenance for Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and later King of Hanover (1771-1851). The fifth son of George III, Cumberland joined the 9th Hanoverian hussars in 1790 and saw action in the French Revolutionary Wars, where as commander of the light battalion of grenadiers at Villers-en-Cauchi on 6 August 1793 he behaved 'remarkably well, with the greatest coolness and spirit' (ODNB).

First edition (dedication dated Sept. 20, 1777); 8vo (21.5 x 14 cm); hand-coloured copper-engraved frontispiece, 20 copper-engraved plates with hand-colouring on 17 leaves, armorial bookplate to front pastedown, contemporary pencil drawing of a mounted soldier to front free endpaper recto, ownership inscription to front free endpaper verso, subscribers list, errata, and advertising leaf, p.41 misnumbered 43, pagination accords with copy held by the Society of the Cincinnati, occasional light spotting; contemporary speckled calf, spine with gilt title-piece, spine cracked but holding, ends rubbed, corners slightly bumped; [32], 286, [2]pp.

ESTC T101343.