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Lot No. 17: Forbes, James

Oriental Memoirs A Narrative of Seventeen Years Residence in India

  • Medium: Printed Book
  • Year: 1834
  • Size: 9 x 5.5 inches
  • Place: London

Unsold (reserve not met)

Estimate

 40,000 -  80,000


Estimate US$

480-1000

Ends at Apr 24, 2024 07:16 PM IST

Quick Overview

Total : 0 bids   |   Next 5 valid bids   | 20% Buyer's Premium   |   Additional Charges   |   Comparable

Forbes, James

Oriental Memoirs A Narrative of Seventeen Years Residence in India

2 Volume set

Year: 1834

Size: 23 x 14 cm (9 x 5.5 inches)

Published by: Richard Bentley. Second edition, 2 vols., Large 8vo, xix +550, viii + 552 pp. Frontis in each vol. Errata leaf present in vol. 2. Contemporary green cloth binding.

James Forbes (1749-1819) joined the East India Company's service as a writer at the age of sixteen and embarked for Bombay for a Eighteen year long career in the East India Company in 1765, only returning permanently to England in 1784. During his time in India Forbes wrote beautifully illustrated letters home during his seventeen years' residence in India, describing the flora, fauna, manners, religions, and archaeology of the west coast of India and observations on parts of Africa and South America, and a narrative of occurrences in four India voyages." These later formed the basis of these "Oriental Memoirs", a "remarkable source book for the west coast of India, published at his own expense" contains some very fine coloured natural-history plates. The views are engraved in line, but the plates of plants, birds, insects, etc., are in aquatint, signed by W. Stoker, all being after drawings made by the author.
In the Preface to this most interesting work, he introduces it to the public in the following words:- "The MSS. from which these volumes are compiled and the drawings which illustrate them, have formed the principal recreation of my life. The pursuit beguiled the monotony of four India voyages, cheered a solitary residence at Anjengo and Dhuboy, and softened the long period of absence from my native country: it has since mitigated the rigour of captivity and alleviated domestic sorrow. Drawing to me had the same charm as music to the soul of harmony. In my secluded situation in Gujerat, I seemed to be best with another sense. My friends in India were happy to enlarge my collection: the sportsman suspended his career after royal game to procure me a curiosity; the Hindoo often brought a bird or an insect for delineation, knowing it would then regain its liberty; and the Brahmin supplied specimens of fruit and flowers from his sacred enclosures. India was formerly not the resort of artists; when there I had little to excite emulation, and no other instruction than a few friendly hints from Sir Archibald Campbell, who during a short residence from Sir Archibald Campbell.
Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman
Good
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