Forum Rare Books

The natural history of India

DELESSERT, Adolphe. Souvenirs d´un voyage dans l´Inde exécuté de 1834 à 1839.
Paris, Bétrune et Plon for Fortin, Masson et Cie & Langlois et Leclerq, 1843. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With 8 lithographed plates of landscapes and cities in India by V. Dollet, 27 engraved plates of mammals, birds, and insects, in the second part after the designs by J.G. Prêtre, Delahaye, and Vaillant, including 24 beautifully coloured by hand by the famous "coloriste" Gérard, and 1 large folding map of Europe, Africa, and Asia, indicating in red the route of Delessert's journey. Contemporary gold-tooled half red morocco. [6], III, 134; [4], 107, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 9,800

Birds - Ornithology Faunas & General Zoology India & Sri Lanka Insects & Spiders Travel & Voyages Asia Travel & Voyages Southern Asia

Terrible executions by the Inquisition

DELLON, Charles & Archibald BOWER. An account of the inquisition at Goa, in India; translated from the French. With an appendix; containing an account of the escape of Archibald Bower, from the inquisition of Italy.
Boston, Samuel T. Armstrong, 1815. 12mo. Later half gilt calf. 214, (2) pp. Full description

€ 1,850

Church History & Missions India & Sri Lanka Jesuits

First edition of an account of the qualities required of a ruler, written by a Franciscan in Goa

DEOS (DEUS), Jacinto de. Brachilogia de princepes, ...
Lisbon, António Craesbeeck de Mello, printer to "Sua Alteza" [= Prince Regent and future King Dom Pedro II], 1671. Small 8vo (15 x 9.5 cm). With 2 woodcut decorated initials (2 series). Contemporary sheepskin parchment without boards. [16], 299, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Church History & Missions India & Sri Lanka

Hongkong edition of a rare work by a famous French missionary in Tibet

DESGODINS, Auguste. Essai de grammaire Thibétaine pour le langage parlé, avec alphabet et prononciation.
Hongkong, Imprimerie de Nazareth, 1899. 12mo. With the printing offices device (an Asian style temple with "Nazareth", "venite seorsum" and an "ME" monogram with cross) on the title-page and several tailpieces. Original publishers half tan morocco, sewn on 3 recessed cords but with 4 false raised band on the spine, with "GRAMMAIRE|THIBÉTAINE" in gold in the 2nd compartment and the printer-publishers "ME" monogram with cross at the foot of the fifth, "Gustav"-marbled sides (tan on yellow), decorated endpapers (printed in imitation of Spanish marbled paper), sprinkled edges. [9], 91, [1] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

India & Sri Lanka Language & Linguistics Literature

Solving the mysterious disappearance of the famous explorer La Pérouse in the South Sea Islands

DILLON, Peter. Reis naar de eilanden der Zuidzee, gedurende de jaren 1827 en 1828, behelzende het verslag der ontdekking van het lot van De la Pérouse.
Amsterdam, G.J.A. Beijerinck, 1830. 2 volumes. 8vo. With 2 folding lithographed frontispieces and a folding engraved map of Vanikoro. The plates are new for this edition, lithographed by Jean Augustin Daiwaille after designs by (Pieter van der?) Meulen and based on the plates in the English edition. Contemporary stiff sprinkled paper wrappers. X, 336; VI, 350 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Australia India & Sri Lanka New Zealand Pacific Islands Southeast Asia Travel & Voyages Asia Travel & Voyages Australia Travel & Voyages Pacific Travel & Voyages Southeast Asia Travel & Voyages Southern Asia

The classic history of the Dutch East Indies

DU BOIS, Johann Peter Isaak. Vies des gouverneurs généraux, avec l'abrégé de l'histoire des etablissements hollandois aux Indes Orientales; ...
Including: IMHOFF, G.W. van. Considerations sur l'etat present de la compagnie hollandoise des Indes Orientales.
The Hague, Pieter de Hondt, 1763. Royal 4to (27.5 x 22.5 cm). With 34 engraved plates, 1 engraved allegorical headpiece and 28 numbered headpieces with portraits of the Gouvernors-General of the Dutch East Indies. All plates were drawn and presumably engraved by the artist and engraver Jacob van Schley (1715-1729). 19th-century half cloth. VI, 351, [1], 48 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Ceylon Economic History & Trade Formosa / Taiwan India & Sri Lanka Indonesia / Dutch East Indies Southern Africa VOC

Secret correspondence between Tipu Sultan and the French, published by the British

[EAST INDIA COMPANY]. [TIPU SULTAN, Zaman Shah DURRANI, NAPOLEON BONAPARTE and others]. Official documents, relative to the negotiations carried on by Tippoo Sultaun, with the French Nation, and other foreign states, for purposes hostile to the British nation; to which is added, proceedings of a Jacobin club, formed at Seringapatam, by the French soldiers in the corps commanded by M. Dompart, with a translation ... Printed by order of the ... Governor General ...
Calcutta, Honorable Companys Press, 1799. Super Royal 4to (33.5 x 25 cm). Never bound, but side stitched through 3 holes. XX, [2], 195, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

India & Sri Lanka Iran / Persia Law & Politics Manuscripts & Documents

Afghanistan and its dependencies in Persia, Tartary and India, with 14 hand-coloured plates, in original wrappers

ELPHINSTONE, Mountstuart. Tableau du royaume de Caboul, et de ses dépendances, dans la Perse, la Tartarie et l'Inde, offrant les moeurs, usages et costumes de cet empire, ... traduit et abrégé de l'anglais, par M. Breton.
Paris, Nepveu, 1817. 3 volumes. 18mo. With 14 engraved plates depicting various costumes, lords on horseback, etc., all beautifully coloured by hand. Original publisher's printed wrappers, each volume with wood engraved illustrations on front, back and spine. Preserved in a modern gold-tooled green morocco box. XLIV, 189 [3]; [4], 222, [2]; [4], 223 [1] pp. Full description

€ 4,950

Costumes & Uniforms India & Sri Lanka Iran / Persia Travel & Voyages Asia Travel & Voyages Middle East Travel & Voyages Southern Asia

Extremely rare petition for promotion to the the Council and Secretary of State for India
for outstanding military and civilian service.

ERSKINE, W.C. Memoranda of my official life.
Little Stanmore, Middlesex, 1859. Small octavo.
No binding. [1], 21, [1] pp. Full description

€ 425

India & Sri Lanka Military History (19th Century)

The only known copy of Thomas Evans's work and a striking example of 19th-century provincial printing in India

EVANS, Thomas. Words of comfort and caution to the sad and sorrowing.
Mussoorie, India, Alexandra Press, Buckle Co., 1885. 8vo. Original publisher's printed wrappers. 28 pp. Full description