India

Baji Rao II – The East India Company 1796-1818 – Pratul Chandra Gupta.

This is a second edition, with important amendments and additions [including a map] of respected hard to find, book by Chandra Gupta. Octavo, 239 pages, published by Allied – Bombay etc. in 1964.

This book is concerned with the fall of the Maratha power in the early years of the nineteenth century. Baji Rao II was the very last of the Peshwas who was compelled to enter into a subordinate alliance with the East India Company. He tried to address the situation but after the last Maratha War he surrendered all his power in return for the security of a pension.

Baji Roa II and the powerful East India Company

$40.00

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The Siege of Chitral, 1895 – Much Sounding of Bugles – John Harris

We have swapped the title and subtitle around as for us the former belittles somewhat the history of the event.

Books were written by officer attendees in the last decade of the 19thC … such as Younghusband and these works provide good primary reference for the author. However, his total body of “reference’ is much more than we anticipated and as a result here we have what is the definitive account.

Larger octavo, 248 pages, endpaper maps, period photographic images, a very good copy bar an ownership label on front paste down.

Chitral as if you had been there but without the pain.

$40.00

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Howdah Elephants Bookends from Aronson 1923

A nice set of bookends from Aronson (formerly Art Metal Works) of the USA.

In the black enamelled form. A little age and authentic pair. Carries the maker’s original label.

As with our multi coloured pair [see separate listing] these bookends are not large things and we coin them “bedroom bookends” …. weighing 980gm the set.

Deco Bookends by Ronson

$190.00

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The Itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna from 1502 to 1508; With a Discourse on Varthema and His Travels in Southern Asia by Sir Richard Carnac Temple – Argonaut Press Limited Numbered Edition 1928 – Edited Penzer

Limited to 975 copies printed on Japon Vellum printed by Walter Lewis at the University Press, Cambridge – this numbered 642.

Well bound quarto, blue cloth covered boards quarter backed in vellum, titles gilt to spine and a lovely gilt embossed image to front taken from the original 16th Century work. Effectively two works – the lengthy “Discourse” after introductions … preface, tables, analysis etc of lxxxv (85 pages) then work itself from the 19th Century Badger/ Winter translation 121 pages, including useful index. Useful maps where appropriate in the discourse. Very good near fine copy.

Verthema travelled at the time of Drake and Magellan which provides perspective and in 1502 he went from Italy to Egypt and Syria and then to Arabia Deserta [Damascus, Medina, Jedda etc] … then in 1503 to Arabia Feliz [Aden, Dhamar, Lahaj etc] and on to Ethiopia in 1504. By later that year he was in Persia [Hormuz, Muscat etc] and India [Gogha, Cambay, Chaul, Calicut etc] Then to Ceylon in 1505 … Bengal and east to the Malacca and the Spice Islands, Java and Borneo. On his way back he assisted the Portuguese in various skirmishes – they being the dominant invasive force at the time. Back home in 1507 via Mozambique.

What makes this book particularly interesting is the history of the translations and the impact of early “reviewers” views. The original work was in Italian, translated to Latin and then English by Richard Eden in 1577. Various others held view and the influential traveller Garcia da Orta Poo Pooed Varthema’s account. Because of this and similar the account was thought to be full of fiction … not so and this book goes a long way to settle the myth and put Verthema back where he belongs as a truly remarkable early traveller.

His account of being chased by elephant in Africa is worth the read alone.

Verthema’s extensive really 16th Century Travels – Once Poo Pooed – but now seen as true.

$190.00

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Hindu Life and Customs – The Sunwheel – Helen Gordon 1935

First edition published by King, London in 1935. The author was Lady Russell a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Octavo, 220 pages, end paper maps of South India [Northern] to front and South India [Southern] to back. Many illustrations from relevant black and white photographs [of good quality] and a few brightly coloured decorative plates – frontispiece of Arunja driving the Chariot of the Sun.

For anyone wanting a fairly thorough introduction to Hindu life and customs this is the book set out in three Parts – Plateau, Plains and Hills [incl. village life, salutation to Siva, incense rock, blue mountains]; Hindu Temples and Their Gods [incl. great festivals, cult of Minakshi, marriage of the Gods]; Hindu States and Their Rulers [incl. travels in the Land of the Celestials, birthday festivities, pantomime and dance].

The whole ends with a good bibliography for those that wish to explore further, glossary and useful index.

The Hindu World for those that wish to understand it.

$25.00

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Kushan Empire Artefact (First Century BCE) – Hand Holding a Serpent by the Head

A fragment well carved in the red sandstone of the region. From the Kushan Empire of Northern India and beyond, circa 1st – 2nd Century BCE. A lovely and curious example.

Dimensions roughly 10cm x 9cm x 8cm; 16cm high on its stand; weighs 450gm. The simple stand is all that is needed to make this unusual sculpture accessible. Acquired by Voyager from a broader beautiful private collection.

The Kushan Empire was then at the heart of the world between the Roman Empire in the west and the Chinese Han Dynasty in the east. They were heavily influenced by the Greeks and in the earlier years used the Greek alphabet and language for official matters.

The hand here is interesting and the grip unusual but likely the best way to hold a serpent or snake which students of the region will know had special meaning … the snakes not the way of holding.

Special for its age, origin and symbolism. A pretty unique item.

$390.00

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Baji Rao II – The East India Company 1796-1818 – Pratul Chandra Gupta.

The Siege of Chitral, 1895 – Much Sounding of Bugles – John Harris

Howdah Elephants Bookends from Aronson 1923

The Itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna from 1502 to 1508; With a Discourse on Varthema and His Travels in Southern Asia by Sir Richard Carnac Temple – Argonaut Press Limited Numbered Edition 1928 – Edited Penzer

Hindu Life and Customs – The Sunwheel – Helen Gordon 1935

Kushan Empire Artefact (First Century BCE) – Hand Holding a Serpent by the Head

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