The status of Corsica had been disputed for centuries between France and various Italian states. In 1755, the island, led by Pasquale Paoli declared independence from Genoa and proclaimed a republic. However, this lasted only 13 years and the country was conquered by French forces in 1768. Paoli led an armed resistance but was defeated the following year and he fled into exile in Britain.

On the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, Paoli returned to Corsica with the support of the new French Republic, but, in 1793, following the execution of Louis XVI, he declared Corsica’s independence. To save the country from another French invasion, Paoli sought protection from Britain and suggested that it become an autonomous kingdom in personal union with the rest of the country. This situation was acceptable to the British who saw the usefulness of the island as an additional naval base in the Mediterranean and between 1794 and 1796, Corsica was a British possession.

This description of the island, its history, natural history and topography was published in London in 1795. It was written by a man calling himself ‘Colonel Frederick’ and claiming to be the son of the German adventurer and self-proclaimed king of Corsica, Theodore von Neuhoff (1694-1756). Nothing is known of his true identity, but ‘Frederick’ managed to persuade many in London society of his claims and briefly moved in high social circles until his death in poverty in 1797.

Due to its binding, this book was one of those selected by Olwen Hedley in the 1960s as a fine example of bookbinding in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Hedley’s ‘Additional Bookbindings’ serve as a supplement to the catalogue of fine bindings compiled in 1893 by the Royal Librarian Richard Rivington Holmes.