Hipkins' Historic Instruments, State Trumpet & Kettledrum. Lithograph c1888.

by Hipkins, Alfred James

Royal Arms of King George III on Silver State Trumpet and State Kettledrum. Lithograph, c1888. The bending back of the trumpet upon itself, now a well-known feature in the instrument, was an invention of a Frenchman towards the end of the 15th century. The trumpet is one of the oldest instruments used in concert with others, and it was used at the court of Mantua in Italy since the beginning of the 17th century.  More recently, slides and pistons have been incorporated to augments its range and make playing of the instrument easier.

Original colour-printed lithograph by William Gibb for the first edition of “Musical Instruments - Historic, Rare and Unique” by Alfred James Hipkins (1826-1903), published in Edinburgh, circa 1888 by Adam and Charles Black. Gibb's lithographs for the first edition of Hipkins's work are considered to be the finest illustrations of musical instruments ever done.

Page size: 405 x 295 mm (approximately 16 x 11.5 inches). Lithograph size: 320 x 210 mm (approx. 11.5 x 8.25 inches).