Quarto. In two volumes. vii, 15, [1], xlv, [1], 375, [1]; [2], 511pp, [1]. With an engraved portrait frontispiece to each volume, 10 further engraved plates, and four engraved vignettes. Extra-illustrated with 21 engraved plates. Nine manuscript documents, two facsimile letters, [2]pp description of Naples, three leaves of The Times newspaper, and a broadside variously bound, tipped-in, or loosely inserted. Recent half calf, tooled in gilt and blind, marbled boards, contrasting red and green morocco lettering-pieces, A.E.G. Minor shelf-wear, some water-staining to bindings. Marbled endpapers, gilt supralibros (on calf) of C. J. Britton, early armorial bookplate of Edward Charles Fletcher, and recent bookplate of R. C. Fiske to FEP, scattered foxing, short closed tear to margin of leaf 5M2.

A profusely extra-illustrated copy, with remarkable provenance and many manuscript letters, of the first edition of Clarke and M'Arthur's seminal biography of Nelson.

A pencilled note in the hand of Norfolk-based amateur historian, and inaugural member of the Nelson Society, R. C. Fiske to recto of front blank fly-leaf of Vol. I reads: 'This fine copy comes from the library of C. J. Britton, the Nelson author and authority. It comprises a good copy formerly belonging to Edward Charles Fletcher (see his book-plate) and some leaves salvaged from a poor copy formerly belonging to Nelson's old 'Sea-Daddy', Capt. Wm. Locker. These leaves had brief annotations by Locker and were kept in the original full calf covered boards (no spine) which had Locker's gilt stamps on the front. When it became necessary to re-case Fletcher's volumes I had Locker's duplicate pages inserted and adding his gilt stamps in the form of a book-plate. The extra illustrations and letters which Britton had inserted have been retained. The loose ones have been collected and inserted by myself. RCF'.

The manuscript documents contained within this copy include:

- James Stanier Clarke (1766-1834), an A.L.S. circa 1809, three pages mounted on card '...for the Nelson's Life that has been omitted, the fault does not rest with me...';

- George Rose (1744-1818), an A.L.S. dated July 5th 1796, three pages regarding Lt. Gen Giles Stibbert (1743-1809);

- Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803), an autograph letter headed 'Naples' and dated May 17th 1785, four pages but incomplete as final leaf excised at foot;

- Admiral Edward Vernon (1684-1757), autograph letter signed dated 15th Sept 1708, two pages, Sept 17 Bishopmark, some browning, part losses and repairs;

- General Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch (1748-1843), A.L.S. headed 'Citadel of Messina' and dated 22nd June

1799 to Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803), three pages '...Nelson has been ordered to come
here... ';

- James Stanier Clarke (1766-1834), another undated A.L.S., three
pages listing various personages to whom proof prints and copies of the work are to be sent;

- Rear-Admiral Sir John Lockhart Ross (1721-1790), an A.L.S. headed 'Royal George Spithead' and dated May 20th 1781, two pages '...we are returned after supplying the garrison of Gibraltar with plenty of provisions, the Spanish fleet of 30 sail of the line hearing'.

A loosely inserted note in the hand of author ofnNew Chronicles of the life of Lord Nelson
(Birmingham, 1946), Charles J. Britton provides some clarification to the bibliographical confusion presented by Fiske and suggests the included material is from a copy belonging not to Locker but his son, watercolourist Edward Hawke Locker (1777-1849) (an obvious conclusion given that the senior Locker passed prior to publication). The note reads: 'This copy of the Remarks is that sent to Captain William Locker as per his letter dated February 21st 1797, recorded on page 353 vol 2 Dispatches & letters (Nicolas). This copy, together with two sheets from Nelson's journal (apparently in the handwriting of a clerk) were with Edward Hawke Locker's copy of Clark & M'Arthurs Life of Lord Nelson, which copy is in my possession. The two volumes bear his monogram and crest, and contain pencil notes by him. C. J. Britton 20.7.'44'.

Captain William Locker (1731-1800), Royal Navy officer and correspondent of Horatio Nelson. In 1777 Locker commissioned the Lowestoft for the West Indies. A nineteen-year-old Nelson, then just promoted, was at the same time appointed one of the Lowestoft's lieutenants, and remained with Locker for about fifteen months. More than twenty years afterwards (1799) Nelson wrote to Locker: 'I have been your scholar; it is you who taught me to board a Frenchman by your conduct when in the Experiment; it is you who always told me ‘Lay a Frenchman close and you will beat him;’ and my only merit in my profession is being a good scholar. Our friendship will never end but with my life, but you have always been too partial to me'.