Memoir of the Operations of the British Army in India,

First Edition. Blacker served in the Mysore campaign of 1799 as a cornet in the Madras cavalry, a year later acting as Colonel Stevenson’s aide-de-camp in Wainad, before returning to his regiment campaigning in the southern provinces of Madras under Colonel Agnew, who thanked him “having surprised a party of the enemy and for a successful charge with the troop of cavalry under his command” (ODNB). His later career was in the Quarter-Master General’s department of which he became head in 1810. In 1815 he was with the army of reserve in the Deccan under Hislop, and two years later he served under him at the battle of Mehidpur and other operations in the Deccan. “His services at Mehidpur and the reconnaissances made by him before the battle were specially brought to the notice of the governor-general. He was made CB in 1823.” Blacker was subsequently appointed surveyor-general of India. This excellent history of the most important campaigns in which he served, a key source for the period, is touchingly dedicated “To the Officers of the British Army in India”; “Fellow Soldiers, The original object of Dedications, to gain currency for a Work under the patronage of some powerful name forms no part of the motive with which I address you... That you will never have a more zealous historian, I may venture to affirm; and with assurances of the just pride I feel, in belonging to the same Army with yourselves, I remain, Your most devoted and faithful Comrade...”

4to. (275mm x 220mm). Folding mezzotint frontispiece, opening to 850mm, and one smaller folding panorama, slightly cropped into the key text, 6 folding tables, 2 folding Orders of Battle, 8 folding maps and 34 Battle Plans, the majority double-page or folding, most with hand-coloured dispositions. Frontispiece slightly foxed, title browned and slightly creased, light browning else and mild off-setting from some maps or plans, one of them creased, but overall a very good copy contemporary calf, black morocco label, spine gilt in compartments, rubbed and fairly crudely, but effectively, rejointed, a.e.m.