Details
Prince Alexi Dmitrievich Soltykoff (1806-1859) and Edward B. Eastwick (editor)
Indian Scenes and Characters: from drawings made on the spot sketched. London: Smith, Elder and Co., Bombay: Smith, Taylor and Co., 1858.
Large 2 (628 x 440mm). Lithographic title-page with lettering in black and gold and tinted vignette finished in colour by hand by J. Trayer after Soltykoff dated 1858, letterpress title dated 1859, letterpress text, and 16 hand-coloured tinted lithographic plates heightened with gum arabic, title and plates each marked proof. (Some very occasional light spotting to verso of a few plates and to margins of a few leaves only, otherwise in excellent condition.) Publisher's red morocco-backed blue stipple-cloth blocked in gilt on upper cover with title and temple, lettered in gilt on spine, waxed paper endpapers (extremities rubbed, short tears to head and foot of spine). Provenance: 'To Mrs. Wiseman, this momento of a departed friend, London 11 April 1859' (contemporary inscription on front free end paper).
EXCESSIVELY RARE: PROBABLY ONE VERY FEW COPIES IN PROOF STATE. WE CAN TRACE NO COLOURED COPY AT AUCTION IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. One of the greatest of all Indian colourplate books. Saltykoff travelled widely, his immense personal wealth gave him the opportunity to indulge his interest in the East and in collecting Indian and Persian objects and art. He made two trips to India and published several works on his travels and experiences. He was deeply eccentric and his wealth allowed him the luxury of lavish publication standards and afforded him the liberty to write as he found. The text of this work is both informative and perceptive and characteristically full of colourful detail. This state not in Abbey, Brunet or De Silva.
Indian Scenes and Characters: from drawings made on the spot sketched. London: Smith, Elder and Co., Bombay: Smith, Taylor and Co., 1858.
Large 2 (628 x 440mm). Lithographic title-page with lettering in black and gold and tinted vignette finished in colour by hand by J. Trayer after Soltykoff dated 1858, letterpress title dated 1859, letterpress text, and 16 hand-coloured tinted lithographic plates heightened with gum arabic, title and plates each marked proof. (Some very occasional light spotting to verso of a few plates and to margins of a few leaves only, otherwise in excellent condition.) Publisher's red morocco-backed blue stipple-cloth blocked in gilt on upper cover with title and temple, lettered in gilt on spine, waxed paper endpapers (extremities rubbed, short tears to head and foot of spine). Provenance: 'To Mrs. Wiseman, this momento of a departed friend, London 11 April 1859' (contemporary inscription on front free end paper).
EXCESSIVELY RARE: PROBABLY ONE VERY FEW COPIES IN PROOF STATE. WE CAN TRACE NO COLOURED COPY AT AUCTION IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. One of the greatest of all Indian colourplate books. Saltykoff travelled widely, his immense personal wealth gave him the opportunity to indulge his interest in the East and in collecting Indian and Persian objects and art. He made two trips to India and published several works on his travels and experiences. He was deeply eccentric and his wealth allowed him the luxury of lavish publication standards and afforded him the liberty to write as he found. The text of this work is both informative and perceptive and characteristically full of colourful detail. This state not in Abbey, Brunet or De Silva.
Sale room notice
View of the Palace at Jaypore has a clean but deep repaired tear affecting the top half of the image.
There are 15 plates, as called for, not 16.
Please note, the illustrations opposite in the catalogue relate to this lot and not lot 222 as indicated.
There are 15 plates, as called for, not 16.
Please note, the illustrations opposite in the catalogue relate to this lot and not lot 222 as indicated.