Unattributed “Hornet and Penguin.” From Horace Kimball’s "American Naval Battles…"

Unattributed. “Hornet and Penguin.”  From Horace Kimball’s American Naval Battles …

Boston: J.J. Smith, 1831.  Approx. 3 x 6 (image). Wood engraving.  Hand coloring. Light transference of text.  Else, very good condition. 

A print from an illustrated history of naval engagements of the United States.  First issued in 1816 under the title of The Naval Temple…, this publication included illustrations of naval battles of the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars.  The demand by the military and the public for information and illustrations of these battles was satisfied by this and other illustrated publications shortly after the war ended.  Naval Battles was issued in several editions, under three different titles (Naval Temple…, American Naval Battles…, & Naval Battles…) with the last edition published in 1858.  It is interesting to note that all of the later editions used the original wood block illustrations from the first edition (1816).  Overall, a wonderful series of nicely engraved naval prints originally issued not long after these historic events.