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Lot No. 24: FORBES, JAMES.

ORIENTAL MEMOIRS

Medium: Printed Books
Year: 1813
Size: 12.3 x 9.7 inches
Place: London

Winning Bid : ₹ 9,48,816

(Inclusive Buyer's Premium)

Estimate

6,00,000 - 10,00,000

Estimate US$

7200-12000

Ends at Oct 17, 2024 07:29 PM IST

Quick Overview

Total : 4 bids | Next 5 valid bids | 20% Buyer's Premium | Additional Charges | Comparable

FORBES, JAMES.

ORIENTAL MEMOIRS

ELECTED AND ABRIDGES FROM A SERIES OF FAMILIAR LETTERS WRITTEN DURING SEVENTEEN YEARS RESIDENCE IN INDIA: INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON PARTS OF AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA, AND A NARRATIVE OF OCCURRENCES IN FOUR INDIA VOYAGES.
Illustrated by engravings from original drawings.

Year: 1813

Size: 31 x 25 cm (12.3 x 9.7 inches)

Printed for the Author by T. Bensley. Published by White, Cochrene and Co. 1813. First edition.

4 Volumes Set. complete with engraved frontispiece portrait of the author by Bate and 93 full page plates (of which 28 are hand-colored and concern natural history subjects).

Four large quarto volumes (11 3/4 x 9 4/5 inches, 305 x 255 mm). [4], [1]-xxiii, [1, blank],[1]-481, [1, printer's slug]; xv, [1, blank], 542; xii, 487, [3, blank];[2, blank], xi, [1, blank], 425, [1, printer's slug], [1, errata], [1, blank], [4, direction to the bindery], [2, blank] pp. Complete with engraved frontispiece portrait of the author by Bate and 93 full page plates (of which 28 are hand-colored and concern natural history subjects). According to Abbey this title was originally published with ninety-four plates (including frontispiece) only. In 1819 upon the author's death remainder copies were deposited in a warehouse. In about 1839 they were re-found and reissued together with twenty-seven additional plates. Abbey's copy was one of these remainder issues with 122 plates and thus should be dated 1813 [ca. 1839]. Casey A. Woods lists the plates as follows: Volume I containing forty plates; Vol. II containing twenty-eight plates; Vol. III containing twenty plates and Vol. IV containing five plates. Our copy agrees with Woods. Bound in contemporary light green calf Boards elaborately stamped in gilt and blind, spine in six compartments, re-backed preserving old red morocco title labels on spine, gilt rules in compartments. Edges and turn-ins ruled in gilt. Marbled end-papers. Two previous owner's old bookplates on front paste down in each volume. Overall a very nice set. Finely illustrated with 28 beautiful coloured plates of birds,flowers, fruit, fish, and other natural history subjects after the original drawings by Hooker, also 65 engraved views illustrating the native building, costume etc.

James Forbes (1749-1819) joined the East India Company's service 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. Contemporary ink signature of Mary Rawson to front free end-papers, book-label of Nidd Hall and Mountgarret bookplate to paste downs

Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman

Good Condition

	Nickname	Amount(Rs)	Type	Date & Time(IST)
1	anon0350	790680.00	Regular	17-10-2024 07:10:30 PM IST
2	anon0142	718800.00	Regular	17-10-2024 07:10:30 PM IST
3	anon0350	653400.00	Regular	17-10-2024 06:10:40 PM IST
4	anon0119	594000.00	Regular	17-10-2024 04:10:59 PM IST

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Lot No. 24: FORBES, JAMES.

ORIENTAL MEMOIRS

Quick Overview

FORBES, JAMES.

ORIENTAL MEMOIRS

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