The Naval Atalantis; or, a Display of the Characters of Such Flag Officers as Were Distinguished during the Last War, along with The Naval Atalantis; or a Display of the Characters of Post-Captains, Who Served During the Late War

The Naval Atalantis; or, a Display of the Characters of Such Flag Officers as Were Distinguished during the Last War. Combined with The Naval Atalantis; or a Display of the Characters of Post-Captains, Who Served During the Late War (Part II). Two Parts in One Volume. Junior, Nauticus [pseudonym for Joseph Harris]. London: J. Ridgway, 1788-9. First edition. Short biographies of famous British admirals that served in the American Revolutionary War (always referred to as "the last war" -- including Lord Howe, Sir Peter Parker, Lord Rodney, Alexander Hood, Sir Francis Samuel Drake, Sir John Jervis and others. Some of the officers are highly criticized. Numerous mentions of skirmishes in the West Indies. Hardcover, rebacked at some point, full leather using the original boards. Spine has gilt titles in a red band and gilt rules. Gilt trim on edges of boards. 5.25x8.5 inches, 318 pages. With the bookplate of T. J. L. Brooke of Mere Hall on the inside front cover. This is likely Thomas Langford Brooke (1769-1815) whose family seat was Mere Hall in Cheshire, England. He inherited the estate, as well as a plantation in Antigua. He was in the military in the late 1700s and following that was a sheriff in Cheshire. Very rare on the market; we can find no other copies outside libraries. A former owner apparently paid $1200 for it, as the price is still in pencil on the endpaper. Formerly in the collection/estate of R. Burdett Mafit a well-known British naval history collector.…