[ The Garrison Library, Gibraltar. ] Issue of 'The Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry. Weekly Budget and Light Bob Gazette', with illustrated front-page feature on the 'Centenary of the Garrison Library'. Also cricket report and scorecard.

Author: 
The Garrison Library, Gibraltar, founded in 1801 [ The Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry. Weekly Budget and Light Bob Gazette. ]
Publication details: 
No. XXVIII. Gibraltar, 2 September 1893. [ 'Published at the Somerset Mimeograph Establishment, South Barracks, Gibraltar, every Saturday. C. P. NORTHAN, Manager.' ]
£180.00
SKU: 16767

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. Complete issue, paginated 115-118. In fair condition, worn and aged. An attractive production, printed in black, with the masthead featuring the regiment's badge in green ink. 14 x 19.5 cm lithographic illustration by 'RF' on the front page, showing the library building in its setting, with a simple charm. The accompanying article reports on the centenary celebrations. 'To Captain, afterwards Colonel Drinkwater the historian of the memorable siege of Gibraltar are we indebted for the origin of this excellent institution. Thanks to the generosity of H.R.H. The Duke of York and Albany, the then Commander in Chief, and also of the illustrious statesman, William Pitt, then Prime Minister of England, the Library was started on an excellent financial basis. It now contains upwards of 40,000 volumes some of which are very rare and valuable. The Library is probably second to none in any military station where the Queen's soldiers are serving.' Other articles are: 'Open Air Concert' (with programme), 'How I went on Furlough', 'A Military Correspondent on Naval Doings', 'Rough Times', 'Notes on the Regimental Rifle Club', 'Regimental Jottings', 'Answers to Correspondents', 'Arrangements for next week', 'Regimental Rifle Club Competitions' and 'Notes by our Cricket Correspondent' (with report and scorecard of match: 'Somerset Light Infantry v. 60th Rifles'). The Garrison Library was purchased by the English booksellers Martin Orsky and Ben Weinreb in the 1950s (see Snelling's 'Rare Books and Rarer People').