Great Wellington's Funeral Obsequies

London: Read & Co.,, 1852. The Funeral of the Great Duke of Wellington
An Extravagant Affair on an Unprecedented Scale
The most Extraordinary Street Procession that Londoners had ever Witnessed

[WELLINGTON, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of]. Great Wellington's Funeral Obsequies. To which is added a Memoir of his life, death and burial. London: Read & Co., [November 20th, 1852].

Oblong folio (13 5/8 x 18 3/8 inches; 346 x 466 mm.). Colored lithograph title-page, 14 pp. of text. Seven hand-colored lithograph plates, all heightened with gum arabic and all interleaved. Plate no. 7 bound as frontispiece. Some light , mainly (truncated) marginal foxing.

Publisher's quarter black cloth over pictorial boards, yellow coated endpapers, all edges gilt. Extremities a little rubbed but still a wonderful example of this very lavish production.

The state funeral of the Duke of Wellington on November 18th, 1852, was a monumental event in British history, reflecting his esteemed military and political career. Wellington, who died at the age of eighty-three on September 14th at Walmer Castle in Kent, is best known for his command of British troops at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18th, 1815, where Napoleon was decisively defeated. His victory at Waterloo and his role in the Napoleonic Wars established him as a national hero. In addition to his military achievements, Wellington also served as Prime Minister of Britain, further solidifying his legacy.

The Crown decreed that the Duke should have a state funeral. Prince Albert, along with Lord Derby, the Prime Minister, and Spencer Walpole, the Home Secretary, oversaw the arrangements. It was to be an extravagant affair on an unprecedented scale, and indeed it was marked by the most extraordinary street procession that Londoners had ever witnessed. The significance of the event was such that it caused the cancellation of the Lord Mayor's parade for the first and only time in history. Memorabilia from the event were created to capture the grandeur and splendor of the procession, serving as keepsakes for those who wished to remember this historic occasion. These souvenirs were intended to honor Wellington's contributions and to provide a lasting record of the lavish funeral that celebrated his life and achievements

Rare: OCLC/KVK locate just two copies in libraries and institutions worldwide: Multnomah County Library (OR, US); State Library of New South Wales (Australia).

The Plates;
1. Last moments of the Great Duke of Wellington.
2. Lying in State of the Duke of Wellington at Chelsea Hospital.
3. Funeral of the Great Duke of Wellington. View from the Green Park, Piccadilly.
4. Funeral of the Great Duke of Wellington. The Duke's Charger.
5. Funeral of the Great Duke of Wellington. Procession passing Temple Bar.
6. Funeral of the Great Duke of Wellington. Interior of St. Pauls from the western gallery, looking east.
7. Funeral of the Great Duke of Wellington. Interior of St. Pauls from the organ loft, looking west.

Not in Abbey or Not in Tooley. (Inventory #: 05910)