27 résultats
179936399London: Printed for A. Strahan; T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies 1799. The Third Edition. Leather bound. Incomplete. Octavo. 1 viii 441 pages 1 page blank 20 pages Index 1 page advertisement 1 page blank 1. Large folding map approx. 20" x 16" in front is present. Missing the second folding map possibly not bound in. Marbled polished calf leather binding with red leather title label on the spine. Restored at one point in time. Both boards neatly reattached to the binding. Newer leather visible on the outer joints. Hinges are in good condition. Leather spine lightly faded and scuffed. Small hole in the upper right text margin from the title page disappearing by page 8. Map is not affected. Light toning to the map with a very tiny closed tear on the far left margin not affecting the content. The second called for map is missing. Text is lightly toned throughout. Previous owner signature top of the title page. Armorial bookplate of "W. D. Griswold Smith" on the front paste down. The bookplate is mostly covering up an earlier owner name in pencil. Incomplete due to a missing map. Printed for A. Strahan,; T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies unknown
177521539Paris 1775. Very good condition. Detailed copper engraved map of northern India from Perse Persia Kabul and Tibet in the north down to the River Ganges and the Golphe du Sindi. From Prevost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages". With two decorative cartouches.<br /> <br /> Bellin 1703 - 1772 one of the most noted French mapmakers of the 18th century was named the hydrographer chief cartographer to the French Navy and later the Official Hydrographer to the French King.<br /> <br /> Folding 13 3/4 x 9 1/2". Strong impression very clean. unknown
177521540Paris 1775. Very good condition. Detailed copper engraved map of southern India from Bombay down to the tip of the continent and showing the Isle de Ceylan. The Coste de Coromandel and the Golfe de Bengal shown along the east coast. From Prevost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages". With a decorative cartouche at the lower left.<br /> <br /> Bellin 1703 - 1772 one of the most noted French mapmakers of the 18th century was named the hydrographer chief cartographer to the French Navy and later the Official Hydrographer to the French King.<br /> <br /> Strong impression very clean. unknown
177521547Paris 1775. Very good condition. Detailed copper engraved map of the Persian Gulf and western India from Perse Persia and Grand Mogol in the north down to the tip of India including the Maldives. From Prevost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages". With decorative cartouche and compass rose.<br /> <br /> Bellin 1703 - 1772 one of the most noted French mapmakers of the 18th century was named the hydrographer chief cartographer to the French Navy and later the Official Hydrographer to the French King.<br /> <br /> Folding 8 1/2 x 10 1/2". Strong impression very clean. unknown
17853800017Edinburgh: C. Elliot and G Robinson 1785. Book. Good/Very Good. Disbound. Reprint. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First printed in Calcutta in 1784 pp 63 1 Disbound evidence of it having at some stage been bound with other material. In very good condition subject a little sptting to last few pages and two leaves chipped with slight loss of text. Uncommon Scans available. C. Elliot and G Robinson unknown
1797ESTpoEAS29London: Printed By The Reporter And Sold By J. Debrett. 1797. 1797. 4to. pp. 2 p.l. 63. with half-title. contemporary bds. upper corner of covers & margins of last gathering dampstained. Goldsmiths' 16979. London: Printed By The Reporter, And Sold By J. Debrett. 1797. unknown
173221951London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill 1732. Very good condition. Copper engraved view of the Indian Coromandel coast pearl fishing port Tuticorin or Thoothukudi. A numbered key at the upper left describes the various buildings and people including; "Governors house" "a Heap of Pearle Oyster Shells" "Marchants of divers Nations" and "Tents where all sorts of provisions are sold while ye Pearle Fishery Continues". <br /> <br /> A view of the coastline showing pearl fishermen unloading oysters in front of the provision tents as traders look on. European buildings and many boats pulled up along the shore recede into the distance. From Awnsham & John Churchill's "A Collection of Voyages and Travels" engraved by Johannes Kip. Image 14 1/2 x 11" on paper 19 1/4 x 14". Two small chips at left edge. Strong impression bright and clean. Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill unknown
173813108'sGravenhaage Cornelis van Zanten 1738. Cont. full calf. Richly gilt back. Lower part of back slightly rubbed. Engr. frontisp. XXIV184 pp. <br/><br/><em>First edition. </em> unknown
1762239716London: Printed for J. Brotherton in Cornhill; and sold by R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-Mall and T. Waller in Fleet Street 1762. First edition. 4 71 pp. Errata slip tipped to blank verso of second leaf. LACKING folding diagram. 1 vols. 4to. Removed. First two leaves detached. First edition. 4 71 pp. Errata slip tipped to blank verso of second leaf. LACKING folding diagram. 1 vols. 4to. Dunning's brilliant defence of the British East India Company against charges brought by the Dutch marked the beginning of his career as barrister and politician. " . of Dunning's great distinction as a lawyer there is no doubt. The obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine referred not purely conventionally to his 'amazing powers' . Shelburne wrote that 'all parties allowed him to be at the head of the bar . The only doubt was whether he excelled most at equity or common law. There was none as to anybody's coming up to him in either' . " ODNB. Kress 6007; Goldsmith 9776; Higgs 2737; ESTC T97097 Printed for J. Brotherton, in Cornhill; and sold by R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, and T. Waller, in Fleet Street unknown
1792245340Maestricht: Roux & Compagnie 1792. First edition was London 1791. With 2 large folding maps of south and southeast Asia the first encompassing the classical references in Robertson's text the second of the region according to Ptolemy. xii 501 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Contemporary quarter calf and boards new endpapers. Bookplate. Very good. First edition was London 1791. With 2 large folding maps of south and southeast Asia the first encompassing the classical references in Robertson's text the second of the region according to Ptolemy. xii 501 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. A translation into French of Robertson's Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India. Robertson was also the author of The History of America 1777. Lowndes 1571 Roux & Compagnie unknown
179177381London 1791. Stor 4to. Samtidig bind med marmorerte dekler. Ryggstripen mangler. ix 364 12 s. Med to store kobberstukne foldekart. Large 4to. Contemporary binding with marbled covers. Spine lacking. ix 364 12 pp. With two large folding copper engraved maps. Engelsk. unknown
1792911831792. London. 1792. Dark green cloth gilt type to spine. Sugar report 64 pages followed by six appendices 1789-1790; together with "Thanks to Lord Cornwallis and the Officers Serving in India" and debate 1793 161 pages;"Regulations Proposed to form the By-Laws" 27 pages; "The Debates at the East India House on the 18th of June 1794 on the Consideration of the Report of the Committee of By-Laws and on Mr Twining's Motion . . . " reported by William Woodfall with an Appendix containing letters etc. necessary to elucidate the subject 1794 52 pages; "The Debates at the East India House on Wednesday the 21st of January 1795 on the mode of forming into a by-law Mr Twining's motion . . . which had been carried by Ballot and also on the subject of the Company's Shipping" reported by William Woodfall 1795 134 pages. Corners a little bumped spine and margins of boards sl. damp-mottled edges of boards rubbed. A few marks in blue and red pencil to title-page of Sugar Report. hardcover
17921325<p><strong> NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS</strong></p><p><strong>GOWER Richard Hall in the </strong><strong>India</strong><strong> Service. </strong><em> A Description of several instruments for Measuring a Ship's Way through the Water By.With an Account of his Patent Perpetual Log and how the same principle may be applied to shew the absolute velocity of the Wind and the depths of the Sea. </em>8vo modern cloth backed marbled boards half-title title 5-32 2 copper engraved plates. London: Printed for the Author 1792. </p><p>First Edition of author's rare first nautical work with the half-title. <strong>ESTC </strong>locates two copies in England BL & NMM and two copies in this country BA & NYPL. Gower fl. 1767-1833 a sea captain and naval architect "had been shocked by the low standard of navigation which he found in the convoy which took him to the East Indies.He devised a patent log part of the workmanship being entrusted to Alexander Grant and the sole rights of sale vested in Messrs Gilbert & Wright of 148 Leadenhall Street. He refers to "the indefatigable Mr. Stancliff' as cutting the scale on his optical instrument with his dividing machine. He then tried the instrument out with John Adams a mathematical teacher of Edmonton who has been identified as a reviser of textbooks for Mount and Page the chart-sellers."-Taylor <em>The Mathematical Practitioners of Hanoverian </em><em>England</em><em> 1714-1840 </em>#840. "In 1787 he devised an instrument which measured a vessel's way through the water with greater accuracy than had previously been possible."-<strong>O</strong><strong>DNB</strong><strong>.</strong> The followng year he wrote <em>A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Seamanship </em>which long remained a standard work. We trace no copies at auction. 84574</p> The Author
1778223135London.: Printed for John Nourse. 1778-1880. Third Edition"revised by the author" of Volume I; first edition of Volume II Part I only lacking Part II. Two volumes 23 maps plans or views of 36 most folding: iv 436pp xcvii Index iii Errata Errata in the Index Directions for the Binder to Place the Maps; ii 365pp contemporary calf boards re-backed boards scored and scuffed 28.3 x 22 cms several of the maps with small fold splits no loss some offsetting the folding views of Calcutta and Bengal particularly fine the large folding "General Map of Indostan" in the first volume heavily spotted affecting the facing leaf several old paper repairs and inked corrections in an early hand with the armorial bookplates of Joseph Cator a prominent merchant and administrator with the East India Company and of Peter Cator his son founder of the Cator Prize and of Bertie Peter Cator and of Kelham Hall a handsome example lacking the second part of Volume II in good condition. Foundational work written by Robert Orme an official and historiographer for the British East India Company EIC with a noteworthy family provenance. The text chronicles the geopolitical struggles and military conflicts that paved the way for British dominance over the Indian subcontinent. <br> <br>The Cator family built a legacy of immense wealth regional development and colonial influence spanning three generations. Joseph Cator 1733–1818 laid the financial foundations as a wealthy "nabob" and high-ranking East India Company official in Calcutta. His 1780 marriage to Diana Bertie daughter of Sir Albemarle Bertie successfully elevated the family into the British aristocracy allowing him to return to England and manage expanding Kent estates like Beckenham Place Park. His son Peter Cator 1796–1873 leveraged this land inheritance during the mid-19th-century railway boom. Alongside his brother Peter transformed these holdings into the upmarket Cator Estate across Blackheath and Beckenham while also working as a lawyer and establishing educational scripture prizes in Madras. This colonial and legal influence continued with his descendant Sir Ralph Bertie Peter Cator 1861–1945 who served the British Empire as a prominent colonial judge holding key judicial appointments as the First Judge of British East Africa and later in the High Court of Constantinople. . Printed for John Nourse. hardcover
1786ABC_45537Puducherry Pondichéry 1786. Folio. Manuscript death certificate including a red wax seal of a former employee of the French East India Company who is buried in the cemetery of the Église Notre-Dame-des-Anges in Puducherry which was the capital of the Indian district and later also the larger union territory of the same name which was ruled by the French from 1673 to 1954. The certificate is signed by the reverend father Damas who was superior of Puducherry and was authenticated by the authorizing officer of the French East India Company Jean-François de Moracin who was also commissioner general of the ports and naval arsenals in the colonies.In good condition. unknown
178015<p>First Rare edition in Italian of William Bolts Historical political and cultural treatise on Bengal</p><p>Bolts William. <em>Stato civile politico e commerciante del Regno di Bengala ovvero Storia delle conquiste e dell'amministrazione della compagnia inglese in quelle contrade</em> <em>che vengono a formare i tomi 19. e 20. in seguito della Storia filosofica e politica dell'abate Rainal. </em><em>Tomo primo -secondo.</em> sl se 1780.</p><p>8vo 180 x 120 mm modern quarter calf binding boards enriched by handcoloured paper vol 1: pp. 2 199 1 signature pigreco1 A-L8 M12. M12v blank vol 2: pp. 2 208 2 signature π¹ A-N⸠χ¹; at the end folded map "<em>Carta di Bengala . formata secondo il piano preso su i luoghi da W. Bolts</em>" signed "<em>Bart.o Nerici sc. Lucae</em>"</p><p>Big folded Map of Bengal</p><p>Rare First Edition in Italian of William Bolts most important work on denunciation of the activities of the East India Company in the Indian region of Bengal published for the First Time in 1772 under the title "<em>Considerations on India Affairs</em>" and formed by two volumes.</p><p>Vol 1 is dedicated to an excursus on history and costumes of Bengal while in the second he attacked the administration of the East India Company in Bengal; and in particular he complained of the arbitrary power exercised by the authorities and of his own deportation. The observations and experiences he records still offer a unique resource for scholars inquiring into the nature of Company rule in Bengal.</p><p>William Bolts 1738–1808 was a Dutch-born British merchant active in India. He began his career as an employee of the East India Company and subsequently became an independent merchant. He is best known today for his 1772 book <em>Considerations on India Affairs</em> translated in French in 1775 and in Italian in 1780 which detailed the administration of the East India Company in Bengal which began shortly after their victory at Plassey in 1757. Throughout his life Bolts continued to propose and execute various trading ventures on his own behalf and in conjunction with various commercial and governmental partners. The ventures of individual traders like Bolts did much to spur governments and large corporations into the expansion of their own interests.</p><p>Condition: Very good copy printed on strong paper.</p><p>Provenance: I. Ownership stamp "<em>Colonnello Oro Vincenzo S- Angelo Le Fratte Anno 1923</em>" at title page last page of each volume and on <em>verso</em> of map</p>
17305023<p>Copperplate engraving 83.5 x 55.5 cm 1 folio. Fold marks minor edge wear otherwise a very good copy in very crisp dark impression.<br /></p><p>Rare large-format engraved print produced in 1730 as part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession 1530 one of the foundational documents of Lutheranism. The subject of the print is the famous Tranquebar Mission in southern India which was established by King Frederick IV of Denmark 1671-1730 and led by the German missionaries Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg 1682-1719 and Heinrich Plütschau 1676-1752 who are noted for having translated the Bible into Tamil and arranged for its printing.</p><p>The engraving executed by Johann Jacob Kleinschmidt after a design by Elias Riedinger is a splendid example of 18th-century Augsburg printmaking. It takes as its compositional conceit a church altar surmounted by a framed retable. The image above the altar depicts the German missionaries preaching to an audience of natives; in the background of this scene can be glimpsed a statue of 'Biruma oder Brama' Brahma. The elaborately carved frame of the retable is enlivened with vignettes illustrating the successes of the Lutheran mission e.g. an Indian smashing an idol a native being baptized a domesticated elephant symbolizing the people under God's yoke etc.</p><p>Placed atop the altar are oval portraits of Ziegenbalg and Plütschau their names written in Tamil and the books they translated an Indian bible an Indian catechism and an Indian hymnal. A map of southern India hangs on the front face of the altar. Flanking the altar are two young natives: the boy on the left holds the Danish Royal arms and the boy on the right displays the architectural plan of the New Jerusalem Church in Tranquebar built by the Germans and dedicated in 1719. In front of the altar are fallen symbols of the old dispensation. At the foot of the sheet is a poem in Latin and German celebrating the expansion of the Lutheran faith to all corners of the world.</p><p>The engraving is one of several quite ambitious broadside prints produced in Augsburg to commemorate the bicentennial of the Augsburg Confession some of which apparently reproduced paintings executed for the occasion. These rather disparate graphic productions were collected by Johann Michael Roth in 1730/31 and released as a small-edition composite volume with an added engraved title page reading <i>Augspurgisches Iubel-Gedächtnüs</i>. The contents of this rather odd production vary greatly from copy to copy. Kleinschmidt's <i>Vorstellung der Evangelisch-Ost-Indischen Kirche</i> engraving apparently was a commercial success because in 1736 citing demand he released a small-format version of the work its composition slightly altered.</p><p>OCLC locates U.S. examples of the <i>Augspurgisches Iubel-Gedächtnüs</i> at Illinois Duke Getty Stanford Princeton Yale Harvard Emory Concordia Seminary and Cal. State Sutro. The Getty copy includes Kleinschmidt's <i>Vorstellung der Evangelisch-Ost-Indischen Kirch</i> but it is not clear which other examples include this engraving.</p><p>Drugulin <i>Historischer Bilderatlas</i> 4112; S. Neill <i>A History of Christianity in India</i>.</p> Kleinschmidt
1798319520London: Henry Hughes 1798. First edition. Folding map frontispieces plates. xv 263 9 index; x 374 12 pp. 2 vols. 4to 11 x 9 inches. Contemporary full tan calf rebacked retaining original boards lower corner of Vol. I repaired. 19th-century ownership inscriptions to first blanks 1-inch tear to map near mount some thumb soiling and scattered spotting. First edition. Folding map frontispieces plates. xv 263 9 index; x 374 12 pp. 2 vols. 4to 11 x 9 inches. "This tireless naturalist and antiquary reached out to the ends of the world to gather in knowledge" Cox. <br /> These are volumes one and two on India and Ceylon of an intended 14-volume series entitled "Outlines of the Globe." Welshman Pennant died in 1798 the year of publication and only two more volumes China and Japan were published after his death by his son. ESTC T145966; Cox I p. 307 Henry Hughes unknown
1777390092London : East India Company 1777. 1st edition. Hardcover. Finely bound copies in modern half tan buckram over contrasting fine-ribbed cloth boards. Title page repaired. Particularly well-preserved; tight bright clean and strong. Further scans images and additional bibliographical material available on request. Physical description; 2 volumes. Contents; Vol. 1. Containing orders of the Court of Directors and minutes of Council entered on consultations -- Vol. 2. Containing letters from different persons respecting the above transactions. Subjects; Pigot George Baron 1719-1777. Chennai India History ; Sources. Madras India. Thanjavur India : District History Early works to 1800. London : East India Company hardcover
1717576<p>Autograph letter 2pp. folded signed "G. Johnstone" to Sir David Dundas contemporary ink stain not affecting text marginal toning 17 September 1774</p><p>The autograph letter from George Johnstone the Director of the East India Company regarding George Vansittart 1745-1825 "quitting the service of the East India Company". The letter goes on to discuss Warren Hastings the Treaty of Banaras and reformations. Beginning with a politically motivated embezzlement:</p><br /><p>"You will now judge what reformations are likely to take place under such a General who in a very inferior station cut out with 100000£ and endeavoured to support evidence on the reform action attempted by General Claverings besides furthering by his own confession in a manner so very unworthy a public officer…". General Clavering was appointed Commander in Chief in India in 1774 shortly after Warren Hastings was appointed Governor General. By the 1770s Hastings had already made many political enemies in the East India Company. </p><br /><p>The letter goes on to state: </p><p>"I am not surprised that Mr. Hastings and his friends should wish for a success for the only person who was privy to the Treaty at Banaras for exterpating the Rohilla… but why Pitt should adopt him I shall never wonder more." </p><br /><p>The Treaties of Banaras of 1773 was an agreement regulating relations between the British Government of Bengal and the ruler of the Muslim state of Oudh modern day Ayodya. Warren Hastings ceded Allahabad and Kora to the states ruler and promised to support him against the menacing Afghan Rohillas in return for cash payments. This move designed to strengthen Oudh as a buffer state between Bengal and the Marathas led to the Rohilla War of 1774 which later became a major factor in Hastings's impeachment 1788–95.</p><br /><p>The mention of Pitt is referring to Prime Minister William Pitt's Regulating Act of 1773. The Act was intended to overhaul the management of the East India Company's rule in India. Although it was not a long term solution to the concerns over the company's affairs it marked the first step towards parliamentary control over the company and centralised administration in India. </p><br /><p>George Johnson was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the War of Austrian Succession the Seven Years War and the American War of Independence rising for a time to the position of Commodore of a squadron. Adaptable in his career Johnson also served as a member of Parliament a member of the Carlisle Peace Commission a Director of the East India Company and the first Governor of West Florida from 1763 until 1767. Early in his service he revealed both the positive and negative aspects of his character. He was praised for his bravery when confronting the enemy but censured for disobedience. He rose through the ranks to his own commands and had some success with small cruisers against privateers. Throughout his life he rotated between his political career and his service in the Royal Navy. He became a director of the East India Company towards the end of his life before illness forced him to retire from business and politics shortly before his death in 1787.</p><br /><p>An important letter revealing the Director of the East India Company's concern over the actions of Warren Hastings. </p>
1730ABC_47423Augsburg 1730. 86 x 59 cm. Copperplate engraving. A grand engraving commemorating the achievements of the August Protestant Church in India features various scenes and elements. In the background there are mountains palm trees houses and people including a Chinese person. The foreground shows deciduous and palm trees with a lit grotto holding an idol inscribed with "Brama". In front of the grotto an evangelical missionary preaches to a large congregation of natives while holding a book of music in his left hand and pointing to Brama with his right hand. The missionary wears a turban a priest's cloak and has flappers. The audience under the hill is depicted in interesting groups with some closer to us appearing larger and clearer. At the bottom of the engraving there is an art altar with several books including the "Biblia Malabarica" "Catechism Malabaricus" and the hymnal "Liber Cantion. Malabar." The engraving was made by the German engraver painter draughtsman and art publisher Johann Elias Ridinger 1698-1767. He trained in Ulm and Augsburg under Christoph Resch and Johann Falch and learned engraving from Georg Philipp Rugendas. Ridinger later spent three years in Regensburg where he developed his style through coursing and visits to the riding school. His ornamental works show Rococo stylistic tendencies and he founded his own publishing house in Augsburg. His precise and tasteful drawings were highly regarded and transferred to decoration porcelain and ceramics.With two minor tears one partly repaired the other one not affecting the engraving. Overall in very good condition.l Thienemann Leben und Wirken des unvergleichlichen Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger 913; Thienemann "Nachträge Zusätze und Berichtigungen C. L. zu : Leben und Wirken des unvergleichlichen Thiermalers und Kupfer stechers Johann Elias Ridinger etc." in Archiv für die zeichnenden Künste 5 1859 pp. 148-149. unknown
180019106AB1800. Paris Poignee An VIII 1800 Four large folding engraved maps six engraved foloding maps and one plan. The four large folding engraved maps are forming the 'Carte de L'Indostan ou de L'Empire Mogol' the oulines contemporary hand-coloured. First French edition with maps revised by Jean Nicholas Buache incorporating the four maps that compose Rennell's "second great work. the construction of the first approximately correct map of India" DNB. "The Father of Indian Surveying" Gole "Early Maps of India" Rennell charted the currents through the India Ocean and around Africa and later surveyed the Indian interior. He recognized Europe's growing fascination with India: "As almost every particular relating to Hindoostan is become an object of popular curiosity it can hardly be deemed superfluous to lay before the public an improved system of its geography" Rennell Preface. With Rennell's first map of Hindoostan the result of 500 separate surveys and stretching from the Himalayas in the north to Ceylon in the south and the "Great Sandy Deserts" in the west. Born in Chudleigh in Devon England James Rennell who was to become one of the mosst celebrated cartographers of his time joined the British Navy as a midshipman at the age of 14. Amidst the Seven Years' War 1756-1763 he travelled the world and learned marine surveying and hydrography. This led to his appointment at age 24 as surveyor of the British East India Company's dominions in Bengal. In 1765 Rennell began surveying India. By this time the British East India Company had maintained its foothold on the region for over one hundred years but it was still another century before Queen Victoria would set her eyes eastward and Rennell's explorations and accounts helped to fill that gap in time. Rennell combined data from British Army columns with Ain-e-Akbari 1598 a translation of Islamic geography of the empire which helped him acquire information about old divisions he therefore subdivided the country according to the Mughal provinces of 'subas'. unknown
1777390089London : East India Company 1777. 1st edition. Hardcover. Finely bound in modern half tan buckram over contrasting fine ribbed-cloth boards. Particularly well-preserved; tight bright clean and strong. Further scans images and additional bibliographical material available on request. Physical description 3 v. Subjects; Appendix. East India Company. Tanjore. London : East India Company hardcover
1743ABC_45492Karaikal 1743. Blue mottled stiff paper wrappers. 4to ca. 24 x 18.5 cm. Manuscript written in dark brown ink on beige laid paper. French manuscript written in Karaikal French India since 1739 which gives a detailed explanation of the Indian caste system: the author explains in the beginning of the text that the French people are ill-informed about it. To illustrate the Indian caste system the anonymous author tells lively anecdotes and makes comparisons with French social classes and parallels to biblical stories. The author not only describes the details of the four castes Brahmin Raj Vaisya and Sudra including their hierarchy and advantages the purpose of this social structure and the experience of those who lose their caste. He goes further speculates about the way different cultures criticize each others morals. He argues that all nations criticize each other in some way simply because the habits of cultures differ each with its own good reasons. He also wrote about the extent of superstition in the customs of Indian people for example the beliefs surrounding cows. He concludes that not all their customs are superstitious. The author clearly views Indian cultural practices with a certain gentleness.Somewhat worn at the extremities and spine slightly foxed on the front paste-down and a little dust soiled on the first page. Otherwise in good condition. unknown
1796398421796. The archive comprises: 1. Autograph letter signed "John Canning." Bifolium 13 x 8 1/4 inches 21 lines in fine Malay Jawi with Arabic opening formula docketed "Calcutta 10 Dec 1796"; octagonal red-wax armorial seal of the Canning family. Letter requests that local rulers receive Capt. Hogan "as our agent. to conclude a treaty advantageous to both sides" dated 22 Jumada II 1211 / 10 Dec 1796. 2. to 5. 4 Paper wrappers. English addresses in a copperplate hand & parallel Jawi headings each with intact Canning seal. Addressed to the Sultan of Magindanao King of Mempawah Borneo King of Bali Sultan of Borneo. 6. to 8. 3 Yellow-silk diplomatic covers. Golden satin sleeves with paper address bands in two languages; two remain unopened and sealed. Addressed to the Sultan of Johor unopened King of Sumbawa unopened Sultan of Sulu wrapper only. An exceptional archive uniting British Malay and Islamic manuscript traditions that captures the East India Company’s first concerted overtures to the island-states of Southeast Asia.<br/> <br/> Drafted in the wake of the Dutch East India Company's collapse and the French Revolutionary Wars this archive documents the East India Company's first concerted diplomatic overtures to the maritime courts of the Malay world. With Dutch control unraveling after the 1795 Batavian Revolution Britain saw a strategic opportunity to enter the lucrative Spice Island trade. Lacking on-the-ground alliances the Company turned to private initiative: Captain Michael Hogan an Irish-American merchant and former convict transport captain was enlisted as unofficial envoy aboard his ship Marquis Cornwallis. The diplomatic texts were composed by Captain John Goodall Canning then Harbour-Master of the port in refined court Malay using Jawi script the Islamic-inflected lingua franca of diplomacy from Aceh to Sulu. In keeping with regional tradition the letters open with Islamic invocation and florid honorifics followed by carefully phrased expressions of friendship and commercial intent. The surviving autograph letter fixes the date of the mission and declares its purpose: "to plant affection and concord and if Your Highness deem it good to enter with us into a compact benefiting both realms." After disembarking convicts in Port Jackson Sydney in February 1796 the Marquis Cornwallis passed northward through Torres Strait calling at New Guinea the Moluccas and ports across the Java Sea almost certainly delivering these and parallel documents en route. The silk wrappers signal the elevated diplomatic status of the messages which were meant to be presented in person by Hogan and opened only in the presence of the addressee. The present archive offers a rare and vivid glimpse into the hybrid ceremonial linguistic and political world of early modern Southeast Asia and into the improvisational diplomacy of the Company at the edge of empire. unknown
