• Title : Army & Navy Club, Pall Mall
• Date : 1851
• Condition: (A+) Fine Condition
• Ref:  92679
• Size: 14 1/2in x 11in (370mm x 280mm)

Description: 
This finely engraved beautifully hand coloured original antique print of the Army & Navy Club, or The Rag as it is known, in Pall Mall, London was engraved John Shepherd and published in the The World's Metropolis, or Mighty London, Illustrated by a Series of Views Beautifully Engraved on Steel, London 1851-1855.

Founded in August 1837, the year Queen Victoria acceded to the Throne, the Club was formed to meet the needs of the many army officers wanting to join a Service Club, most of which were already full. The great Duke of Wellington said he would become neither a patron nor a Member unless membership was also offered to officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Hence, the "Army Club" became the Army and Navy Club.

The Club's distinguished forebears include Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes, the first President who, as Adjutant General, fought, sword in hand, at the Battle of Waterloo, and Admiral Sir Philip Durham, one of Nelson's "Band of Brothers" who commanded HMS Defiance at the Battle of Trafalgar. Shortly after opening, the Club acquired its famous nickname, when Captain William (Billy) Higginson Duff, a colourful character with a brief and undistinguished military career was offended by the spartan nature of the fare offered to him on returning from a spree.  He described the Club as a ‘Rag and Famish affair’ which was intended as a great insult, since the ‘Rag and Famish’ was a squalid gaming house ‘for broken down gamblers who played for coppers’.  The Members were amused rather than insulted by this and formed a ‘Rag and Famish’ dining club.  The name was gradually adopted as the Club’s nickname, eventually being reduced to ‘The Rag’.  Captain Duff’s behaviour did not improve and he was later sentenced to six months in jail for assaulting a constable

General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy & stable
Paper color: - White
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: -  Yellow, brown
General color appearance: -  Authentic
Paper size: - 14 1/2in x 11in (370mm x 280mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)

Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None