Detailed records of a young military cadet in the HEIC at the beginning of the 19th century

A Cadetship in the Honourable East India Company’s Service, 1805. Being a short memoir of Edward Blagdon. Born 1788; Died 1806. Edited by Florence Mostyn Gamlen. Printed at the University Press by John Johnson [Oxford] 1931, 1st edition 8vo. No 19 of an unspecified number of a small private printing.

43pp. Original blue paper covered boards with vellum spine, minor damage to the extremities of the boards, internally very clean, inscribed on a blank H. W. Akers from the Editor 7 December 1931, a further signed note to Mr Akers pasted to the front pastedown. A fascinating insight into the induction into the Company’s Bengal Army provided by a youth who tragically died aged only 18. The lists of purchases are particularly revealing: we learn, for instance, that a regimental sword cost £4, far less than a pair of epaulettes at £6 6s.    oct26/2