Lot 160
India - Arrowsmith, Aaron
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photography
Auction: 11 October 2017 at 11:00 BST
Description
To Mark Wood Esq. M.P., Colonel of the Army in India, Late Chief Engineer and Surveyer General, of Bengal, This Map of India Compiled from various Interesting and Valuable Materials is inscribed in tasteful testimony of his Liberal Communications. London: A. Arrowsmith, 1804. First edition, very large engraved map of India (187 x 165mm.), partly hand-coloured, mounted on linen, attached to roller at foot with wooden caption, at some point, probably in 19th century, painted over with ?varnish, varnish now unevenly worn & slightly yellowed, small tear to top left sheet (with no loss), few mm. loss extreme right lower corner, slight dampstain at left edge
Footnote
Note: One of the rarest, largest and most beautiful maps of India produced in the 19th century. It was originally published in six sheets, and is now joined as three sheets. It shows British controlled areas at the turn of 18th century, and is enriched by much new material, supplied by the numerous "route surveys" carried out by the army. Very rare: only 3 copies found on WorldCat: British Library, Harvard and Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire; only 3 copies traced at auction since 1979, including the one sold at Lyon & Turnbull, 13 January 2016, lot 52, for £6000 (hammer price).