Binding of the library of the British »Board of Ordnance«

Parchment binding with coat of arms of the British military body „Board of Ordnance“ gilt stamped as supralibro on front board. S.l, s.a. [presumably late 18th century]. 37:25 cm. Parchment binding with gilt stamped supralibro and blind stamped decorative frames, inner boards with laminated, hand made marbled paper in green colour.

Parchment binding with coat of arms of the British military body „Board of Ordnance“ gilt stamped as supralibro on front board. [Presumably late 18th century]. 37:25 cm. Parchment binding with gilt stamped supralibro and blind stamped decorative frames, inner boards with laminated, hand made marbled paper in green.

Unique parchment binding, probably deriving from the library of the Royal Military Academy founded by the »Board of Ordnance«, a British military body, in 1741. Established in the Tudor period, the Board had its headquarters in the Tower of London, where nowadays its Coat of Arms can still be found on the walls. The primary responsibilities of this body were to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence of the realm and its overseas possessions, and as the supplier of munitions and equipment to both the Army and the Navy. The Board also maintained and directed the Artillery and Engineer corps. By the nineteenth century, the Board of Ordnance was second in size only to Treasury among government departments. Its activities lasted until 1855, at which point (tarnished by poor performance in supplying the Army in Crimea) the organisation was disbanded. The Arms of the Board of Ordnance, gilt stamped on this parchment binding, first appeared in the seventeenth century, and were given royal approval in 1806, confirmed by a grant from the College of Arms in 1823.

Boards and spine with cuts and partly slightly stained, generally well preserved binding.