Rare! Bowles’s Universal Display Of The Flags Of All Nations In The World
CC-0579 – Rare! Bowles’s Universal Display Of The Flags Of All Nations In The World
Printer: Bowles & Carver (1793-1832)
Published: London, England
Dimensions: Approx. 3-3/4″ x 5-5/8″ x 9/16″
Date of Publication/Printing: c. 1801
Medium: Ink on paper, boards, leather, gilt
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a rare original copy of Bowles’s Naval Flags of The World. Printed around 1801, this book was used by sailors to identify ships flags to determine whether they were friend or foe. Given the book’s small size, it was likely kept in the watchman’s pocket or a pouch as he scanned the horizon from the crow’s nest. The book contains 40 pages detailing 230 hand-colored flags in both English and French.
Included in the book is the flag of the United States bearing 13 stars representing the 13 colonies, and of particular note is an unusual flag noted as the “Rovers”. The word “Rovers” was a term used in the 17th century for pirates. This flag is believed to have been used by a pirate named Christopher Moody who was a crew member of a ruthless pirate Captain named Bartholomew Roberts, also known as Black Bart.
This flag features a red and gold Jolly Roger that meant no quarter would be given. It also featured an hourglass with wings to show his victims that their time to live was flying away and in the middle was a white arm holding a sword. For more information on Christopher Moody, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Moody
Black Bart was the most successful pirate ever, capturing over 450 ships including a Portuguese treasure fleet off Brazil. In 1722, Black Bart was killed by the British off of Africa and Christopher Moody, along with the rest of Black Bart’s crew were captured and hung the same year. It is unclear why this flag would be included in a book printed almost 80 years after Moody’s and Black Bart’s deaths, but is very interesting none the less! If you would like to read more about Black Bart, his exploits, and how he met his demise, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_Roberts
The publisher of this book, Bowles & Carver, flourished in London from 1793 until 1832. Upon the death of Carrington Bowles (1724-1793), his firm was taken over by his son Henry Carrington Bowles (1763-1830). Henry Bowles and Samuel Carver published prints and maps from old copper plates and disseminated them throughout the world.
Very few surviving examples exist today outside museums and to see most of the flags contained in this book, visit: Bowles Naval Flags – Works – collections.sea.museum/
$3,750.00
