American War of Independence (1775-83)
George III’s maps and views showing the development of the war at home and abroad, from North America to India
View of the siege of Gibraltar, 1782 (Gibraltar, British Overseas Territory) 36°08'00"N 05°21'00"W
1785Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 35.3 x 57.7 cm (image) | RCIN 734082
This view shows the defeat by the British and Hanoverian troops during the siege of Gibraltar of the Spanish floating batteries which were blown up by British devices known as 'hot potatoes' – cannonballs which had been pre-heated to furnace temperatures.
Parker 92.h gives the publication date of this print as August 1, 1780. He follows it by the statement that 'The date on this print, September 13, 1783, is inaccurate.' Clearly, the date on the print is indeed inaccurate and has been corrected in pencil on this example, probably during the original cataloguing process. Equally, however, Parker has himself made an error in recording the date of publication as 1780 instead of 1782, although this may have been a printer's error which was overlooked during proof reading.
Dedication: [bottom, between title and imprint:] Most Humbly Inscrib'd to General Eliott, by his most Obedient Servant, / G,,F,, Koehler.
Condition: one fold line.
William Faden (1 July 1749-21 March 1836) (publisher) [bottom centre, below text:] Pub.d as the Act directs. August 1. 1785, by W. Faden. Corner of S.t Martins Lane Charing Cross.
After George Frederick Koehler (1758-d. 1800) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] G.F. Koehler, Aid de Camp to General Eliott. Del,,t
Thomas Malton the Younger (1748-1804) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] T. Malton fecit.
George Augustus Elliott, 1st baron Heathfield (1717-90) (dedicatee)
Subject(s)
Army-GBArmy-HanoverWatermark: Dovecote with bird; countermark: [indistinct] / T [followed by a domed shape with a T on top] DUPUY FIN / AUVERGNE 1742.
Condition: one fold line
31.7 x 57.7 cm (neatline)
35.3 x 57.7 cm (image)
36.4 x 60.0 cm (platemark)
37.5 x 61.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
A View of the North Part of GIBRALTER, with the Attack by LAND & SEA, on the 13,,th of Sept,,r 178
3, [the ‘3’ is crossed out in black pencil and the number ‘2’ is substituted, also in black pencil]. bottom centre, below view]Dedication:
[bottom, between title and imprint:] Most Humbly Inscrib'd to General Eliott, by his most Obedient Servant, / G,,F,, Koehler.
Annotations:
George III heading [black pencil:] Military Gibraltar 13 Sep 1782 Port folio No 3.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing: the old heading; bottom left, black pencil:] 92.h.(i); [left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 21; [top left, black pencil:] 21; [top right, black pencil: [30]; [bottom right, black pencil:] 1782-30.
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
Title [ink:] A View of the North Part of Gibraltar, with the attack by land and sea, on the 13.th Sept.r 1782: / by G.F. Koehler, engraved by Malton, published by Faden 1785. / Port-folio N.o [black pencil:] 3 ... 2 Table / [in a modern hand:] UL / Naval / [George III heading, black pencil and red ink:] Gibraltar 13 Sep. 1782; [bottom right, black pencil, erased:] Oversize folder Box XIV.
Watermark: J WHATMAN / 1811.
Size: 48.1 x 33.1 cm (sheet).George III catalogue entry:
Gibraltar A View of the North part of Gibraltar with the Attack by land and sea on the 13.th Sept.r 1782: by G. F. Koehler, engraved by Malton, published by Faden, 1785.
Subject(s)
Gibraltar, British Overseas Territory (36°08'00"N 05°21'00"W)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H. Parker, Naval battles from the collection of prints formed and owned by Commander Sir Charles Leopold Cust. With an introduction by C.N. Robinson, 2 vols., London 1911, no.92.h
Page revisions
23 May 2024
Current version
