British officers, 1845
Rare suite of lithographs
HAYES, Michael Angelo (1820-1877). [The British Army.] London: Henry Graves & Co. and Day & Haghe, 1 December 1845.

A very rare series of color lithographs of mounted British army officers. Each plate presents a large central scene, always containing an officer on horseback, surrounded by smaller military scenes and single figures, a trophy at the top, and a description and plate number on the bottom. Cavalry of the Guard, dragoons, Hussars, lancers, horse and foot artillery, infantry and others are depicted. The edition cited in the Index to British Military Costume Prints is dated 1846 and has Graves & Co. and A. Le Sage of Dublin as publishers and Walker as lithographer. The present copy, published on 1 December 1845, has Graves but not Le Sage, and additionally names Day & Haghe, lithographers to the Queen (active c.1830-62). The artist, Michael Angelo Hayes, was a native of Waterford, Ireland and is chiefly known for pictures involving horses, at the races or in military settings as here. Only one copy recorded at auction, and no library copies found in WorldCat. Index to British Military Costume Prints, 1500-1914, 396; see Strickland, Dictionary of Irish Artists, vol. I p. 461-66.

15 color lithographs, 408 x 320mm, printed on heavy paper and matted (light toning). Modern cloth clamshell box.