A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PICTURESQUE INDIA – SIR RICHARD TEMPLE – 1898 FIRST EDITION
A HANDSOME VICTORIAN FIRST EDITION – COMPLETE WITH 32 ILLUSTRATIONS AND ORIGINAL FOLDING MAP!
An attractive copy of A Bird's-Eye View of Picturesque India by Sir Richard Temple, published by Chatto & Windus, London, in 1898.
This fascinating account of nineteenth-century India was written by one of the most experienced British administrators of the Victorian period, drawing upon his extensive travels and years of service in the subcontinent.
The book retains its original blue cloth binding with gilt decoration, together with all 32 illustrations and the original folding map of India.
THE AUTHOR – SIR RICHARD TEMPLE (1826–1902)
Sir Richard Temple held several important positions in British India, including Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal and Governor of Bombay.
His long administrative career provided him with extensive firsthand knowledge of the country.
His writing offers valuable insight into India during the British Raj, including the observations, attitudes and experiences of a prominent Victorian colonial official.
A PORTRAIT OF INDIA IN THE 1890s
Temple's work explores the extraordinary variety of India's landscapes, historic monuments, architecture, cities and countryside.
Combining descriptions of places with historical observations and personal recollections, the book provides an engaging picture of the subcontinent towards the end of Queen Victoria's reign.
Today, it is particularly interesting as a contemporary account of India before the political, social and geographical transformations of the twentieth century.
32 ILLUSTRATIONS & ORIGINAL FOLDING MAP
A major attraction of this copy is its illustrated content.
All 32 illustrations are present, comprising the frontispiece and 31 further plates, together with the original folding map of India.
The illustrations depict Indian landscapes, buildings and architectural features, bringing Temple's descriptions vividly to life.
The folding map provides additional geographical context and makes this an especially appealing example for collectors of Victorian travel literature and historical cartography.
ORIGINAL GILT-DECORATED VICTORIAN BINDING
The book retains its handsome original blue cloth boards with decorative gilt lettering and ornamentation.
The binding has an attractive period appearance and remains an appealing feature of this substantial nineteenth-century volume.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
Title: A Bird's-Eye View of Picturesque India
Author: Sir Richard Temple
Publisher: Chatto & Windus, London
Year: 1898
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Original gilt-decorated blue cloth hardback
Illustrations: 32, including frontispiece
Map: Original folding map of India
CONDITION
A pleasing copy in Good overall antique condition.
The blue cloth covers retain their gilt decoration, with some rubbing and wear to the spine ends, edges and corners.
Internally, the pages are generally well preserved, with occasional foxing, spotting and age-related discolouration.
The protective tissue over the frontispiece has some creasing, tearing and loss, while the illustration itself appears well preserved.
All 32 illustrations and the original folding map are present.
Please refer to the photographs and separate condition description for further details.
COLLECTORS' INTEREST
An appealing addition to collections of British India, Victorian travel and exploration, nineteenth-century Indian history, historical maps and illustrated antiquarian books.
The combination of Temple's firsthand experience, the attractive original binding and the complete illustrated contents makes this an interesting historical reference and a handsome addition to a traditional library.
AN ORIGINAL 1898 FIRST EDITION – WITH ALL 32 ILLUSTRATIONS AND FOLDING MAP!