Unseen Waterloo- Thin Red Line Hand Made Limited Edition Book
Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited-Thin Red Line Editionis a limited-edition book by Sam Faulkner, created to accompany his acclaimed photography exhibition at Somerset House, which marked the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. This collector’s edition serves as both a tactile and visual homage to the soldiers whose stories and sacrifices have faded into history. Bound in the same red cloth used for British uniforms at Waterloo, each book is housed in a solander case crafted from the same material.
The Thin Red Line Edition, limited to just 25 copies, is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship. Each book is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in Shropshire, a workshop celebrated for upholding the finest traditions of English bookbinding. Known for their bespoke work, Ludlow creates limited editions, slipcases, and solander boxes designed to endure for generations, combining utility and beauty with meticulous care.
The book’s cover and case are made from Hainsworth’s historic red cloth, famously worn by British Redcoats at Waterloo. The design features a finely embroidered battlefield map in silver thread, stitched by Hawthorn & Heaney, a London-based embroidery studio situated near Regent Street. Specialising in costume, ceremonial pieces, and high-fashion embellishments, their work combines precision with artistry, ensuring each detail is both meaningful and exquisite.
Every copy of the book is numbered and signed by the artist.
The portraits within Unseen Waterloo were created by Faulkner between 2009 and 2015, as he photographed re-enactors at the annual Waterloo gatherings in Belgium. Set against a pop-up studio on the battlefield, these painterly portraits evoke the forgotten faces of the conflict. Each image captures the humanity of the moment, reimagining camaraderie, resilience, and loss, as experienced by those who fought.
“Waterloo is often remembered as a clash of Great Men, yet we have no personal images of those who endured the horror of battle,” Faulkner reflects. His portraits offer an imagined tribute to the individuals behind the grand narratives, creating a sense of connection with lives otherwise lost to history.
Published alongside a 12-week exhibition at Somerset House, curated and designed by Patrick Kinmonth, Unseen Waterloo honours the overlooked men of the battle. Through Faulkner’s understated yet evocative imagery, the project reclaims a sense of humanity for those who bore the brunt of history’s weight. The book and its portraits serve as a quietly powerful meditation on sacrifice, loss, and the enduring cost of war.
Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited-Thin Red Line Editionis a limited-edition book by Sam Faulkner, created to accompany his acclaimed photography exhibition at Somerset House, which marked the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. This collector’s edition serves as both a tactile and visual homage to the soldiers whose stories and sacrifices have faded into history. Bound in the same red cloth used for British uniforms at Waterloo, each book is housed in a solander case crafted from the same material.
The Thin Red Line Edition, limited to just 25 copies, is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship. Each book is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in Shropshire, a workshop celebrated for upholding the finest traditions of English bookbinding. Known for their bespoke work, Ludlow creates limited editions, slipcases, and solander boxes designed to endure for generations, combining utility and beauty with meticulous care.
The book’s cover and case are made from Hainsworth’s historic red cloth, famously worn by British Redcoats at Waterloo. The design features a finely embroidered battlefield map in silver thread, stitched by Hawthorn & Heaney, a London-based embroidery studio situated near Regent Street. Specialising in costume, ceremonial pieces, and high-fashion embellishments, their work combines precision with artistry, ensuring each detail is both meaningful and exquisite.
Every copy of the book is numbered and signed by the artist.
The portraits within Unseen Waterloo were created by Faulkner between 2009 and 2015, as he photographed re-enactors at the annual Waterloo gatherings in Belgium. Set against a pop-up studio on the battlefield, these painterly portraits evoke the forgotten faces of the conflict. Each image captures the humanity of the moment, reimagining camaraderie, resilience, and loss, as experienced by those who fought.
“Waterloo is often remembered as a clash of Great Men, yet we have no personal images of those who endured the horror of battle,” Faulkner reflects. His portraits offer an imagined tribute to the individuals behind the grand narratives, creating a sense of connection with lives otherwise lost to history.
Published alongside a 12-week exhibition at Somerset House, curated and designed by Patrick Kinmonth, Unseen Waterloo honours the overlooked men of the battle. Through Faulkner’s understated yet evocative imagery, the project reclaims a sense of humanity for those who bore the brunt of history’s weight. The book and its portraits serve as a quietly powerful meditation on sacrifice, loss, and the enduring cost of war.
Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited-Thin Red Line Editionis a limited-edition book by Sam Faulkner, created to accompany his acclaimed photography exhibition at Somerset House, which marked the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. This collector’s edition serves as both a tactile and visual homage to the soldiers whose stories and sacrifices have faded into history. Bound in the same red cloth used for British uniforms at Waterloo, each book is housed in a solander case crafted from the same material.
The Thin Red Line Edition, limited to just 25 copies, is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship. Each book is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in Shropshire, a workshop celebrated for upholding the finest traditions of English bookbinding. Known for their bespoke work, Ludlow creates limited editions, slipcases, and solander boxes designed to endure for generations, combining utility and beauty with meticulous care.
The book’s cover and case are made from Hainsworth’s historic red cloth, famously worn by British Redcoats at Waterloo. The design features a finely embroidered battlefield map in silver thread, stitched by Hawthorn & Heaney, a London-based embroidery studio situated near Regent Street. Specialising in costume, ceremonial pieces, and high-fashion embellishments, their work combines precision with artistry, ensuring each detail is both meaningful and exquisite.
Every copy of the book is numbered and signed by the artist.
The portraits within Unseen Waterloo were created by Faulkner between 2009 and 2015, as he photographed re-enactors at the annual Waterloo gatherings in Belgium. Set against a pop-up studio on the battlefield, these painterly portraits evoke the forgotten faces of the conflict. Each image captures the humanity of the moment, reimagining camaraderie, resilience, and loss, as experienced by those who fought.
“Waterloo is often remembered as a clash of Great Men, yet we have no personal images of those who endured the horror of battle,” Faulkner reflects. His portraits offer an imagined tribute to the individuals behind the grand narratives, creating a sense of connection with lives otherwise lost to history.
Published alongside a 12-week exhibition at Somerset House, curated and designed by Patrick Kinmonth, Unseen Waterloo honours the overlooked men of the battle. Through Faulkner’s understated yet evocative imagery, the project reclaims a sense of humanity for those who bore the brunt of history’s weight. The book and its portraits serve as a quietly powerful meditation on sacrifice, loss, and the enduring cost of war.