Thomas Chevalier was a London surgeon who published this book on the treatment of gunshot wounds in 1804. The book was the published version of the paper that had won him the prize of the College of Surgeons the previous year. It was a successful text and reached a third edition in 1806. The book also earned Chevalier the post of surgeon-extraordinary to the Prince of Wales, the future George IV, and he received a diamond ring from Alexander I, Tsar of Russia.

This volume is from George IV’s sizeable collection of military books, which he collected throughout his life, and which was the only subject in which he purchased widely at auction sales. This enabled him at least to be fully informed on military matters, in compensation for not being permitted a military career.

Due to its binding, this book was one of those selected by Olwen Hedley in the 1960s as a fine example of bookbinding in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Hedley’s ‘Additional Bookbindings’ serve as a supplement to the catalogue of fine bindings compiled in 1893 by the Royal Librarian Richard Rivington Holmes.

Binding information

Bound in red goatskin, with blind and gold tooling, gilt edges and blue silk doublures. Decorated with the Prince of Wales Feathers badge.