Charles Hamilton Smith was both a soldier with a distinguished record and a keen illustrator. As well as military history and costume, he specialised in natural history and archaeology. These images of members of the British Army differ from many similar publications of the time in that many of the pictures are intended to represent soldiers in realistic situations, rather than formal poses. George IV’s interest in militaria was very wide ranging; as well as illustrations of tactics and of the latest in military technology, he was also fascinated by, and very knowledgeable in, military uniforms, standards and colours. Militaria was the only subject for which George IV sent representation to book sales, his major purchase in this area being a large number of books from the sale of Lord Heathfield’s library in 1814.