The antiquities of western India

Burgess, James. Report on the Antiquities of Kathiawad and Kachh, Being the Result of the Second Season's Operations of the Archaeological Survey of Western India. 1874-75 [...] (Archaeological Survey of Western India).

London, India Museum, 1876.

Folio (260 x 336 mm). X, 242, (2) pp. With 74 numbered plates: 33 mounted albumen prints, 40 lithographed plates, and a folding chromolithographed map. 29 additional albumen prints mounted on 13 unnumbered sheets. Contemporary half calf over cloth boards with giltstamped spine and spine-title. Marbled pastedowns. Top edge gilt.

 15,000.00

First edition, rare. Comprehensive study of antiquities of western India by the leading 19th century archaeologist in this field. This seminal work is particularly interesting due to the large number of excellent original albumen prints of the most prominent excavation sites, including the Junagadh Caves, rock excavations in the Uparkot, the great cave at Talaja, the Temple of Neminatha, and Maiji Sahiba's tomb. The final leaf of text lists 29 "extra Photographs illustrative of this Report [which] are not published, but the negatives are deposited at the India Office". The present copy includes this additional suite of images. In addition, numerous lithographed plates display coins, inscriptions, excavation plans, and floor plans of temples, as well as drawings of architectural details such as pillars and capitals.

Extremities rubbed; slight damage to cloth of upper cover. Interior occasionally browned and somewhat foxed. Rarely seen at auction.

References

OCLC 247845228.