The Austrian army from the Thirty Years' War to the Revolution of 1848, with the rare 1848 title-page

Gerasch, F[ranz]. Das Oesterreichische Heer von Ferdinand II. Römisch Deutschen Kaiser, bis Ferdinand I. Kaiser von Oesterreich.

€ 3,500.00

A complete set of splendid military costume plates, all signed by the artist in lithograph. The lavishly coloured illustrations show the attire of the Austro-Hungarian army over more than two centuries, from 1620 to the upheavals of 1848. They feature notable figures such as Prince Eugene of Savoy as well as counts Tilly, Pappenheim, and Starhemberg, and a variety of military ranks and branches, ranging from lieutenants to generals, showing cuirassiers, dragoons, artillerists, hussars, grenadiers, and trumpeters from all corners of the Habsburg Empire.

One of the major works of Franz Gerasch (1826-1906), a painter and lithographer best known for his battle scenes and genre paintings.

The complete series was published in 38 issues over a course of eight years. This is a very rare early issue, with the main title-page and cover of the first livraison obviously printed and distributed before 1849, as they both still refer to "Ferdinand I", who abdicated on 2 December 1848 in favour of his nephew, Franz Josef. All other known copies of this set appear to show Franz Josef's name on the title.

Occasional slight corner creases and some light surface-soiling.