Lot No. 25:

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS 1857, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870.

Year: 1857, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870

Size: 41.5 x 28.5 cm (16.3 x 11.2 inches)

Printed and published by George C. Leighton 198 Strand, London.
With coloured Supplements

Black and white Wood Engravings and Hand Coloured Wood Engraving on Paper

The Illustrated London News was the world’s first illustrated weekly news magazine, founded by Herbert Ingram and first published on May 14, 1842.

This collection of Illustrated London News volumes from 1857 to 1870 captures key moments of British colonial rule in India through powerful reportage and hand-coloured engravings. The 1857 volume stands out with emotionally charged coverage of the Indian Rebellion, including the sieges of Meerut, Delhi, and Cawnpore, and features four rare hand-coloured engravings by W. Carpainter. Subsequent volumes chronicle the consolidation of British authority and cultural engagement: from the 1867 completion of the India Office, the Urdu/Hindi language debates, and Indian troop involvement in Abyssinia, to the Maharaja of Mysore’s 1868 visit, Rajputana famine in 1869, and depictions of Indian temples, railway expansion, and everyday colonial life. The 1870 volume highlights include illustrations of the cotton harvest, Bharatpur’s palace, and scenes reflecting imperial views of Indian society.

This collection of Illustrated London News volumes from 1857 to 1870 captures key moments of British colonial rule in India through powerful reportage and hand-coloured engravings. The 1857 volume stands out with emotionally charged coverage of the Indian Rebellion, including the sieges of Meerut, Delhi, and Cawnpore, and features four rare hand-coloured engravings by W. Carpainter. Subsequent volumes chronicle the consolidation of British authority and cultural engagement: from the 1867 completion of the India Office, the Urdu/Hindi language debates, and Indian troop involvement in Abyssinia, to the Maharaja of Mysore’s 1868 visit, Rajputana famine in 1869, and depictions of Indian temples, railway expansion, and everyday colonial life. The 1870 volume highlights include illustrations of the cotton harvest, Bharatpur’s palace, and scenes reflecting imperial views of Indian society.

The colour supplements in these volumes are original hand-coloured wood engravings, created during the peak of Victorian innovation in illustrated publishing. A leading figure in this field was George C. Leighton, who became principal printer and later publisher of The Illustrated London News around 1850 Under his leadership, the publication produced some of the largest and most refined colour engravings of the era, employing meticulous hand-colouring on woodblock prints, sometimes in combination with metal cuts.

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Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman

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