Lot No. 65: Fergusson, James

Fergusson, James

Tree & Serpent Worship

Fergusson, James Tree & Serpent Worship, Worship or Illustrations of Mythology and art in India, from the sculptures of the Buddhist Topes at Sanchi and Amravati.

Second edition, Large 4to, Additional lithographed title, 53 mounted albumen plates, 46 lithographed plates, 2 chromolithographed maps including 1 double-page, 'postscript' note at beginning. Original half red morocco-backed green cloth with pictorial decoration in gilt on front cover, spine in six compartments with titles in second, fourth and sixth, beautiful hand marbled end-paper. Fine condition with pages, plates and photos all clean, extremely fine condition. Rare Excellent copy with very slight foxing on few plates, London, India Museum, 1873.

The second and best edition of this important early photographically-illustrated work on Indian architecture: 'revised, corrected, and in great part re-written' including the excellent Waterhouse images of the temple at Sanchi. James Fergusson, after making his fortune in Calcutta, from about 1845 onwards devoted the rest of his life to his passion for Indian architecture. As part of his studies he also assembled an important collection of photographs of Indian architectural antiquities. His initial intention had been to publish a work which concentrated solely on the architectural fragments removed from the stupa at Amravati and shipped back to London (where the author found them stored in the coach houses of the India Museum) With the assistance of the director of the museum, the fragments were photographed by W.H. Griggs 'The photographer attached to the museum' (preface to the first edition) But, before the monograph was completed, the author discovered the 'beautiful series of drawings of the Sanchi Tope, made in 1854 by Lieutenant-Colonel Maisey of the Bengal army, and which were then in the Library of the India Office and at the same time received from Lieutenant Waterhouse, R.A., a set of Photographs of the same monument' (preface to the first edition). The author therefore seized the opportunity to publish a single work on the two great monuments, acknowledging that, then as now, the illustrations were the principle attraction of this important early illustrated work. James Waterhouse did not take up photography until after he arrived in India in 1859 but he went on to serve as president of the Royal Photographic Society in 1905-1906 after a distinguished career in India. He was appointed in 1866 as head of the photographic department of the survey of India, and at the time of his retirement in 1897 was the Assistant Surveyor General.

His contributions to photographic research were recognized in 1890 with the award of the Royal Photographic Society's Progress Medal, and the Vienna Photographic Society's Voigtl'nder Medal in 1895.
Size: 24 x 30 cm
Excellent condition.
Provenance: Property from a collection of a Lady.

Keywords: India, Indian colonial, Early Printed Book, Photo