The Costume, Character, Manners, Domestic Habits, and Religious Ceremonies of the Mahrattas. With Ten Coloured Engravings. From Drawings by a Native Artist. (With: Indian Scenes stamped in the panels on the Boards of the Original Binding).
London. Printed by John Murray. 1813. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 4to. 26.3cm, [xii],358p., with 10 fine hand coloured aquatints including the frontis, Publisher's binding, original full calf, expertly rebacked reproducing the original spine, gilt ruled raised bands, blind decorated panels with gilt center panel devices, crushed black morocco label gilt, in the original boards, wide gilt decorated borders, and blind decorated panel borders, with stamped scenes in the panels (16.5x 11)cm, marbled endpapers, some occasional slight foxing, a fine copy - Illustrated calf bindings of this period are rare. (cgc) Abbey Travel 433. FIRST EDITION. Letters (epistolary), in the form of travel narrative with hand colour costume plates, after drawings by Indian artist, Deen Alee. Thomas Duer (1778-1835), writer on India; Cadet on Bengal establishment, 1795; lieutenant on Madras establishment, 1797; colonel, 1829; published writings on India and selections from Hindo poetry. (DNB). The Maratha, (archaically transliterated as Marhatta or Mahratta) is a group of castes in India found predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. According to the Encyclopdia Britannica, "Marathas are people of India, famed in history as yeoman warriors. The Maratha group of castes is a largely rural class of peasant cultivators, landowners, and soldiers. They reside primarily in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The term "Maratha" originally referred to the speakers of the Marathi language. In the 17th century, it emerged as a designation for soldiers serving in the armies of Deccan sultanates (and later Shivaji). . (Wiki). Item #37232
Price: $2,500.00