The King's survey of the Channel Islands 1680
Subtitle: the Legge report
Contributors: De Gomme, Bernard, 1620-1685; Phillips, Thomas, -1693
Edition: Pilot ed.
Publisher: Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Ltd.
Published: 2011
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 40
Subjects: Early works to 1800; Description and travel; Politics and government; Military bases; Military engineering; Navy-yards and naval stations; History
Other titles: Present state of Guernsey with a short accompt of Jersey and the forts belonging to the said islands
Notes: "In 1679 King Charles II ordered a survey of the Channel Islands and their defences, harbours and forts. He was concerned that there should be "a consultation of all the ablest pilots of Normandy and Brittany to know what ports the King of France might make useful to his fleet. George Legge, later Earl of Dartmouth, and his fellow engineer Sir Bernard de Gomme set off from Portsmouth, taking with them the artist, cartographer and military engineer Thomas Phillips. The lavishly illustrated work they created for the king became known in the Channel Islands as The Legge Report. The book, part report and part pictorial atlas, contains numerous carefully crafted watercolours of the Channel Islands, their approaches, forts and harbours, executed by Phillips as he sailed between the islands. Thomas Phillips was hugely ambitious and this was a great opportunity to impress the King. He transformed what should have been a standard military survey into a stunning manuscript, ideally suited to the theatricality and flamboyance of Charles' court. His use of colour washes, his eye for detail and his extraordinary bird's-eye views make this the most beautiful of all Channel Island books. Legge's report itself is concise and to the point, outlining the action the Crown must take to safeguard the Islands. He also includes documents entitled "Brief State of Guernsey" and "Some short observations on the Island of Jersey". The text covers the ecclesiastical, legal and civil administrations of the Bailiwick including the Royal charters, the Papal Bull of 1480, the roles of the Crown Officers and the standing orders for manning the garrison. There are lists of the clergy, the masters of all vessels belonging to the Islands, the officers of the court and the governors to the year 1680."--prospectus.

Includes 38 facsim. watercolours by Thomas Phillips.

Limited to 275 copies, in 4 different versions (Pilot, Jersey, Guernsey and Fortress).

Rare Book copy: No. 15 of 75 numbered copies of the Pilot edition, with calligraphed inscription, "Donated to Columbia University in the City of New York by Alexander William Mackay Haining of St. Martin's, Guernsey ; on the occasion of his graduation as a Master of Science 21st May 2014.".

Gift of Alexander William Mackay Haining, May 21, 2014