The Seven Years War (1756-63)
Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Havana, 1762
TO the R,,t Hon,,ble the Lords Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord HIGH Admiral of Great Britain, &c. &c. / OF HIS Majesty’s SHIPS on the SECRET EXPEDITION, against the HAVANNAH; / Down the Old Straits of BAHAMA in Seven...
1764 or laterEngraving and etching; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the backing paper brought round the edges of the recto | 44.0 x 63.7 cm (image) | RCIN 733043.b
One of a collection of ten (RCINs 733043.a-j) out of twelve prints. See the main entry at RCIN 733043.
These plates, which were painted by Serres after a series of sketches by Philip Orsbridge who was a Lieutenant on board the Orford, depict different stages of the British siege of Havana which took place between 6 June and 13 August 1762. The British combined operations force of 200 transports with 12,000 troops and twenty ships of the line with 17,000 sailors was commanded by Lieutenant-General George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle (1724-72), Vice-Admiral Sir George Pocock (1706-92), and Major-General George Augustus Eliott (1717-90).
Additional text: [bottom left, left of title a list of the ships, number of guns, and names of commanders.]
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: brown discolouration.
Philip Orsbridge (d. 1766) (artist and publisher) [bottom left, below title:] Drawn on the Spot Design’d & publish’d as ye Act directs.
Dominic Serres the Elder (1722-93) (artist) [bottom left, below view:] Serres pinxit.
? Pierre Charles Canot (1710-77) (engraver)
Watermark: On backing paper: two doves sitting on a dovecote; countermark: two names, one above the other: T DUPUY FIN / AUVERGNE 1742
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: brown discolouration
39.8 x 63.7 cm (neatline)
44.0 x 63.7 cm (image)
44.9 x 65.0 cm (platemark)
47.1 x 67.1 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
TO the R,,t Hon,,ble the Lords Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord HIGH Admiral of Great Britain, &c. &c. / OF HIS Majesty’s SHIPS on the SECRET EXPEDITION, against the HAVANNAH; / Down the Old Straits of BAHAMA in Seven Divisions taken the 2,,d of June 1762; [No plate number. Plate 2.] [bottom, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom left, left of title a list of the ships, number of guns, and names of commanders.]
Annotations:
George III heading: None.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 73; [bottom right, black pencil, in a modern hand:] XIII/43 (ii) 25 Sept 86 CMB; [underneath paper backing, bottom right, black pencil:] C4; [bottom right, black pencil, cropped:] [C4].
George III catalogue entry:
Havana Twelve Historical Views of the glorious Expedition of His Majesty’s Ships and Forces against the Havana in 1762, under the command of Sir George Pocock, Lord Albemarle and Rear Admiral Keppel: by Ph. Orsbridge: painted by Serres and engraved by Canot and Mason: with an Explanation.
Subject(s)
Havana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba (23°07'58"N 82°22'58"W)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
