Maps, plans and views from Elphinstone’s Account of Royal Engineer and Royal Artillery operations at the Siege of Sebastopol, published by Eyre and Spottiswoode for Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London 1859. Lithographed and printed at the Topographical Department of the British War Department. The maps and plans were issued with Elphinstone, Jones and Reilly’s Siege of Sebastopol 1854-55. A fascinating set of engravings, some with hand-colouring. 21 maps and plans on linen, varying in size from 99 by 67 cm. to 67 by 50 cm. The scales also vary, with some as detailed as 100 feet to the inch. They include plans of the Battle of the Alma; defensive positions at Balaklava; the Siege of Sebastopol; Plans of the Russian Works at Sebastopol and a group of engravings of Sebastopol lithographed by Ferguson from original photographs and drawings. In original slipcase. Two of the plans have small annotations in pencil (one signed) and the signature is that of Sir John Clayton Cowell of the Royal Engineers. Cowell was ADC to Sir Harry Jones during the siege. Cowell’s notes on the Redan map describe how General Sir James Simpson (British army commander in the Crimea at the time) was shot at by the Russians from close range, the blast passing between Simpson and the officer next to him. A rare item with an unusual link to some of the major figures in the war. Elphinstone was one of the first holders of the Victoria Cross. VG condition in a VG slipcase.