Biographical/historical information

The Navy Records Society, founded in 1893, was established to publish documentary materials relating to the history of the Royal Navy and British maritime activity. As part of its publishing program, the Society produced reproductions of historic naval charts and battle views intended to support historical research and reference use. The chromolithographs in this collection, issued in 1901, reproduce visual representations of two naval engagements associated with the Third Anglo Dutch War (1672 to 1674).

The Third Anglo Dutch War formed part of the broader Franco Dutch War and involved military and commercial rivalry between England and the Dutch Republic during the late seventeenth century. England, allied with France under King Charles II, engaged the Dutch Republic in a conflict shaped by competition over maritime trade, naval power, and political alliances within Europe. Naval warfare played a central role in the conflict, with fleet engagements occurring primarily in the North Sea and surrounding waters. The war concluded with the Treaty of Westminster in 1674, ending hostilities between England and the Dutch Republic.

The chromolithographs depict the Battle of Solebay (May 28, 1672) and the Battle of Texel (August 21, 1673). The Battle of Solebay was an early fleet engagement of the war, while the Battle of Texel occurred the following year during continued naval operations in the North Sea. Each print presents sequential stages of the engagement accompanied by printed inscriptions identifying ships, positions, and phases of combat. Produced as historical reproductions, the chromolithographs reflect both seventeenth century naval documentation and early twentieth century historical publishing practices.

Scope and arrangement

This collection contains two chromolithographs created by the Navy Records Society in 1901. The chromolithographs depict the Battle of Solebay (May 28, 1672) and the Battle of Texel (August 21, 1673), both of which were part of the Third Anglo-Dutch War (March 27, 1672 - February 19, 1674). The first chromolithograph depicts the Battle of Solebay and consists of three separate sections. The first section bears the printed title "The BATTELLS One the 28th of May 1672," the second "2 Part About 12 at Noon," and the third "3 Part about 6 at Night." All sections include extensive printed inscriptions.

The second chromolithograph depicts the Battle of Texel and consists of seven separate sections. Section titles read, respectively: "The First Part of the Bataile fought on ye 11th of August / About 4 in the Morning," "The Second Part about 6 of ye Clock," "The 3 Part About 7 or 8 of the Clock," "The 4th Part About 10 or 12 of the Clock," "The 5th Parte: about 1 and 2 of the Clock," "The 6 Part About 3 and 4 of Clock," and "The 7th Part About 5 and 6 at Night." Each section contains printed inscriptions.

This collection consists of two chromolithographs produced in 1901 depicting seventeenth century naval battles associated with the Third Anglo Dutch War. The Battle of Solebay chromolithograph is composed of three titled sections representing successive phases of the engagement, each containing printed inscriptions. The Battle of Texel chromolithograph is composed of seven titled sections corresponding to specific times and stages of the battle, each accompanied by printed inscriptions.

The collection is arranged into two series reflecting the individual chromolithographs:

Series 1: Battle of Solebay Chromolithograph contains three sections depicting sequential phases of the Battle of Solebay (1672).

Series 2: Battle of Texel Chromolithograph contains seven sections depicting successive stages of the Battle of Texel (1673).

Although each chromolithograph constitutes a single work, the sections are housed and described individually for preservation and access purposes. Materials are arranged within each series according to the sequential order of the battle scenes as indicated by the printed titles.

Administrative information

Custodial History

February 17, 2026 10 items; chromolithographs (1901) created by the Navy Records Society depicting battles from the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Item found in Collection.

Processing information

Processed by Patrick Cash, February 2026

Copyright notice

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