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The Soldier Panorama Book
Ernest Nister and E.P Dutton
No. 908 Printed in Baveria
10 X 11 1/2 "
Very good condition. All movables are complete and original.
The book contains thirty pages of short stories and verse including five three-dimensional stand-up (pop-up) scenes and other pictures in sepia line drawings.
While the title page states "A Novel Colour Book for Children" the book is not entirely the usual charming fanciful depiction of children and animals at play. The stories and poems as well as most of the sepia drawings are of children playing at military games. Even the title page depicts a small girl wearing a military helmet holding high a sword while riding astride a young boy as the apparent "horse." *However the colorful front cover and all the pop-ups depict accurate images of specific historical military groups, uniforms and events. Two full page sepia drawings, signed J.A. Stewart 1900, show significant military activity. For the collector this extraordinary Nister book is exceptionally desirable.
Very good condition. All movables are complete and original. Both covers are basically clean and in excellent shape with little shelf edge wear. Back has some scuffing in lower section and a few scratches. Spine cloth is original with minor scuffing at pull areas but no tears. Original fly sheets and some of the pages throughout have been neatly reattached with archival linen book tape. Title page has small tears but remaining pages have very little wear. The pages have moderate typical age yellowing. The cover has a bright, clean paste-on handsome picture. The title is lettered red on cream banners decorated with a hunting horn, a breastplate and two spears. Two "Irish Hussars" (soldiers) ride on horseback across a green field. This leads to a series of five military pop-up scenes and two full page military drawings. representing specific military groups, uniforms, equipment and events. Identification of military groups from Hunt, Julia and Frederick, Peeps Into Nisterland, 2006, p. 340.
Scene 1: Royal Scots Fusiliers (Boar War).
Background, A field of soldiers in a battle scene;
1st pop-up, Three soldiers with rifles;
2nd pop-up, Four soldiers.
Scene 2: New South Wales Lancers (Australia) and Irish Hussars.
Background, Field of Lancers on foot and horseback;
1st pop-up, A Lancer and a Hussar both on horses;
2nd pop-up, Two Hussars.
Scene 3: Lancers, Sailors and Infantry with machine gun carriage.
Background, Field, a tent, and soldiers marching, horses pulling field gun;
1st pop-up, Two sailors, and infantry with field-gun carriage;
2nd pop-up, Four soldiers with rifles, and one in blue greatcoat and bonnet.
Scene 4: Royal Horse Artillery, Dragoons and other Infantry.
Background, Soldiers riding into battle, guns and smoke all around them;
1st pop-up, Soldiers and gun carriage, two officers on horseback;
2nd pop-up, Four soldiers with gun carriage.
Scene 5: Indian Soldiers with British Army Officer;
Background, Battle with Indian soldiers on a hill and an English officer;
1st pop-up, Five Indian Soldiers with rifles;
2nd pop-up, Four Indian Soldiers.
Collectors Corner:
*Additional general information of interest based on Internet research:
A pop-up scene depicts the Royal Scots Fusiliers. They have a complex history (1678-1959) beginning as a Scottish regiment in 1678, then in 1688 became English with the arrival of William and Mary as a Regiment of the British Army. The name evolved from a Scottish to Fusilier Regiment (it had been equipped with 'fusils' instead of matchlocks) Royal was added around 1712 as the army was basically English. Finally in in 1877 the regiment finally saw the restoration of Scots in their title thus "Royal Scots Fusiliers" was the official name. The Regiment was awarded many battle honors during the two World Wars (but are shown in the pop-up in their earlier uniforms). They were amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry in 1959 to form The Royal Highland Fusiliers. The Boar War ( Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902) was a fight to keep South African Republics independent from Britain. However, the British won the war and converted the Boer republic into British colonies, later the Union of South Africa.
New South Wales Lancers (Australia) and Irish Hussars are depicted with the Lancers mostly shown from the backs crossing a hill looking in the distance. The three Irish Hussars are the same figures depicted on the front cover. (The two groups seemingly unaware of each other). The New South Wales Lancers was an Australian Army light cavalry (reconnaissance) regiment, first formed as a colonial unit in 1885 and saw action in the Anglo-Boer War and both World Wars. It was merged with other Australian army units in 1956 and continues to serve in the Australian Army Reserve.
It is the Irish Hussars who hold a more interesting history in most people's minds. Created as a cavalry regiment in the British Army in 1693 it saw service for three centuries before being amalgamated into the Queen's Roral Irish Hussars in 1958. one of their assignments was in British India. There they recruited into the British the Indian Gurkhas. But it is their regiment formed as part of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War that is most remembered, largely due to art and literature, for the October 1854 "Charge of the Light Brigade." Despite this tragic battle the Hussars finally overcame the Russians and a peace treaty was signed in March 1856. First raised in Ireland it was a Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars). After years of service it was finally retitled as the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in 1921. In 1958 the regiment was amalgamated with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, to form the Queen's Royal Hussars.
Questions? E-mail us at [email protected]
Product Code: N-91
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