Crimean War Broadside Bombardment!! Siege of Sebastopol dated April 1855
[CRIMEAN WAR BROADSIDE]. BOMBARDMENT!! A contemporary news broadside announcing the renewed bombardment of Sebastopol. Nottingham: Printed and Published by Thomas Stevenson, Wheeler-Gate, [17 April 1855 or shortly thereafter].
Broadside printed on one side of a single thin sheet, 380 x 250 mm, the headline “BOMBARDMENT!!” printed in exceptionally large heavy type above three columns of text. Creased and crumpled, with edge wear, several short marginal tears and light repairs to the reverse along the upper edge. Some toning and surface marking, but substantially complete, fully legible and remarkably well preserved for an ephemeral broadside printed on extremely fragile paper. Good.
A dramatic provincial news broadside issued during the Siege of Sebastopol, announcing the renewed Allied bombardment of the Russian fortress during the Crimean War. The enormous headline occupies almost the full width of the sheet and was designed to attract attention when displayed in the street.
The principal report, headed “Progress of the Siege”, is dated from before Sebastopol on 31 March and describes the Allied trenches, batteries and preparations for reopening fire against the Russian positions. It records the construction of Russian redoubts, the strengthening of works around the Mamelon and Round Tower, the use of heavy guns and shells, and the expectation that the British and French batteries would shortly commence a coordinated bombardment. A further section, “The Bombardment of Sebastopol”, announces that firing had begun on the evening of 9 April and had continued for twelve hours. This refers to the second major Allied bombardment of Sebastopol, launched in April 1855 after the severe Crimean winter and intended to weaken the Russian defences before a renewed assault.
The broadside can be dated closely from its final column, which reports the arrival at Windsor of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie on Monday 16 April 1855. Their state visit was an important public demonstration of the Anglo-French alliance while the two nations fought together in the Crimea. The sheet must therefore have been printed on 17 April 1855 or within the following few days, combining the latest military intelligence with news of the French imperial visit.
Printed by Thomas Stevenson of Wheeler-Gate, Nottingham. Such cheaply produced sheets were intended for immediate circulation and display rather than preservation, and their thin paper and temporary purpose ensured a very low survival rate.