This quarto volume bearing the manuscript title ‘The Uniform of the Several Regiments of Foot in His Majesty’s Service’ sold for $60,000 (£47,245) at Christie’s New York.
Finely bound in red morocco gilt, it contains 70 illustrations of uniforms, executed in ink and wash over an engraved prototype. Each bears a brief identification, together with a nickname, or that of an associated officer – as in the example featured here.
Said to be one of only two recorded copies – the other one dated 1768 and with a royal provenance that is now held at Aldershot – it was last seen at auction in 1901, when it sold for £55 at Sotheby’s.
This time around, more than a century later, it made $60,000 (£47,245).
The auction took place on June 12.
