8vo. Two volumes bound as one. xlviii, 240pp, [4], 515pp, [1]. With a terminal leaf of errata. Contemporary gilt-tooled navy straight-grain morocco, Rubbed, with significant surface wear to joints and edges, upper joint split. Book-label of Edward, Duke of Norfolk to FEP, armorial bookplate of James Russell McLaren to FFEP. Spotting to blank fly-leaves, otherwise internally clean and crisp.

The first edition of English courtier Sir Levett Hanson's (1754-1814) historical record of European orders of knighthood. Hanson, a man of the Continent, left England at the age of 22, returning solely for four short visits before his death. His time spent in the courts of Europe, particularly in the service of Prince Philip of Limbourg, Ercole III d'Este, the Duke of Modena, and the court of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Germany, allowed him to compile this detailed collection of European orders, presented with significant attention to the badges, crests, and decoration of each knighthood. The study was dedicated to Nelson, upon whom Hanson was essential in conferring the Knighthood of the Order of Saint Joachim.