George IV’s interest in militaria extended beyond illustrations of tactics and the latest in military technology.  He was also fascinated by, and very knowledgeable in, military uniforms, standards and colours.  This manuscript was obtained through his agents from the sale of General Dowdeswell's collection in 1820.  Militaria was the only area in which George IV bothered to send representation to book sales, his major purchase in this area being a large number of books from the sale by Leigh and Sotheby of Lord Heathfield’s library in March 1814.  This manuscript shows the state of the British army after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1680; it is interesting to note that the regiments largely bear the name of their Colonels, rather than the more practice of deriving the name from the regiment’s county or function.