Lot No. 6: SLEEMAN, WILLIAM HENRY

SLEEMAN, WILLIAM HENRY

RAMBLES AND RECOLLECTIONS OF AN INDIAN OFFICIAL

First edition
Year: 1844

Size: 24 x 19 cm (9.4 x 7.4 inches)

First Edition

Illustrated with 2 frontispieces and 30 other chromolithographic plates.

Published by: J. Hatchard and Son. 1844.Large 8vo.

Volume I: xii + 2 errata slip + 478pp. 7 tissue-guarded chromolithographs comprising portrait frontispiece of the late Emperor of Delhi and six flower plates,.

Volume II: vii + 3 + 459pp, 25 tissue-guarded chromolithographs, frontispiece shows 5 captioned miniatures and a second group of miniatures shows 4 tombs with captions, the rest of the plates feature mainly buildings and tombs.

Later re-bound.

Sleeman joined the Bengal Army, served in the Nepal War (1814?1816), and in 1820 became assistant to the Governor-General's agent in the Saugor and Nerbudda territories. He is best known for his suppression of the Thuggee secret society. Sleeman was also the earliest discoverer of dinosaur fossils in Asia, he wrote a number of other works on Indian subjects.
In present work he makes very readable observations touching on a myriad of subjects and places and illustrate many facets of Indian life including suttee, witchcraft, influence of electricity on vegetation, corn dealers, the Kohinoor diamond, transit duties, Delhi, Indian Police and military discipline. Sleeman, although not a physician, gave the first account of a toxic malady, Lathyrism.

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Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman