8pp.

[Together with:] The soldier's friend; being the second dialogue between a corporal and a private soldier. Written by a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Army. London. Printed by A. Applegath and E. Cowper, [s.d., c. 1820]. 8pp.

[And:]The true and interesting story of a drummer, giving particular account of what happened in a town in scotland where he was quartered, and Particularly interesting to the Army and Navy. London. Printed by A. Applegath and E. Cowper, [s.d., c. 1820]. 8pp.

[And:] Three true and remarkable stories of the power of conscience. In a jeweller's servant, in a sailor, and in a greenlander... London. Printed by Augutus Applegath and E. Cowper, [s.d., c. 1820]. 8pp.

[And:] A dialogue between john smith and thomas brown, two fellow-apprentices, with a particular character of each. London. Printed by Augutus Applegath and E. Cowper, [s.d., c. 1820]. 8pp.

8vo. All unstitched, uncut, and unopened, as issued. A trifle dusty.

A clutch of five, predominantly martial, one-penny pamphlets from the press of Augustus Applegath (1788-1871) and his brother-in-law Edward Cowper (1790-1852). The partners made a name for themselves in constructing and improving printing machinery, especially for The Times from 1818. In 1827 an Applegath and Cowper four-feeder machine was installed for the newspaper, in 1846 an eight-feeder, and in 1847 a nine-feeder. These considerable feats of engineering enabled The Times to raise its circulation far in advance of its rivals. This flatbed printer would be superseded by Applegath's vertical-drum rotary printing press, the first workable model to be constructed. Despite these achievements, Applegath was declared bankrupt in 1826 and his workshops and goods were sold to another printer, William Clowes, who became a dominant figure in Victorian printing.