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Frederic Shoberl, The World in Miniatures - Hindoostan, containing a Description of the Religion, Manners, Customs, Trades, Arts, Sciences, Literature, Diversions, & c. of The Hindoos, London: Printed for R. Ackermann, repository of Arts, Strand; No date on the title-page but plates are dated 1822

Rebound leather spine with gilt text and 4 raised bands with pictorial cover boards with gilted decorative borders (each)
5.8 x 3.7 in (14.5 x 9.4 cm) (each)

Six volumes bound in 3
Volume 1: pp. xxxix, 187 including 8 colour plates of Hindu gods [pp. xxxix covers Preface, and Contents and List of Plates for all 6 volumes]
Volume 2: 273 pages including 19 colour plates [4 folding]
Volume 3: 324 pages including 22 colour plates [4 folding]
Volume 4: 216 pages including 23 colour plates [2 folding]
Volume 5: 234 pages including 16 colour plates
Volume 6: 240 pages including 15 colour plates [2 folding]

LIST OF PLATES
Volume I: 1. Trimurti, the Indian Trinity (Frontispiece) / 2. Brama / 3. Dourga killing Maissassour / 4. Ganesa, God of Wisdom / 5. Supramanya, second son of Sheeva / 6. Manmadin, the Indian Cupid / 7. Vishnu reclining on the serpent Adissechen / 8. Vishnu in his third Incarnation as a Wild Boar

Volume II: 9. Malabar Writer / 10. Wives of Bramins / 11. A Mahometan Officer / 12. Sujah Dowlah, Visir of the Mogul Empire, Nabob of Oude, and his Ten Sons / 13. Hindoo Ladies paying a Visit to a Persee Lady / 14. A Bramin who teaches the Days, and his Wife / 15. A Pandidapapan Bramin and his Wife / 16. A Papanvaichenaven Bramin, and a Tatoidipapan Bramin / 17. The Fakeer Praoun Poury / 18. The Fakeer Perkasanund / 19. Ter or Sacred Chariot / 20. Tadin playing with fire. Ariganda Pandaron. Tadin with a padlock to his mouth / 21. Pandarons, Penitents of the sect of Sheeva / 22. A Poojaree singing the History of Mariatta / 23. Mariatta Codam, or manner of Dancing in honour of the Goddess Mariatta / 24. Nemessura Cavadi, or Woman rying the water of the Ganges / 25. A Rajah and his Wives celebrating the festival of Krishna / 26. A Religious Procéssion / 27. Ceremony of throwing the Colossal Statue of the goddess Cali into the water

Volume III: 28. A Hindoo cradle (Frontispiece) / 29. Hind?os throwing, themselves on mattresses covered with sharp Instruments / 30. A Species of Penance practised at the festival of the goddess Bhavani / 31. Musical Instruments, Plate 1 / 32. Musical Instruments, Plate 2 / 33. Musical Instruments, Plate 3 / 34. A Mahometan beating the Nagabotte / 35. A Hindoo Dancer called Baloks / 36. Devedassis or Bayaderes / 37. The Father of the Bride going with the nuptial presents to the bridegroom / 38. The bridegroom conducted in state to the house of the bride / 39. The Husband swearing to take care of his Wife / 40. Funeral of a Hindoo / 41. A Hindoo Widow burning herself with the corpse of her husband / 42. A Rajah giving audience / 43. Dress and ornaments of Hindoo Ladies / 44. A Rajpoot / 45. A Mahratta / 46. Pecali, or water- carrier, attendíng the army / 47. Sepoy officers. A private Sepoy / 48. A Seik. A sepoy in the French service / 49. A Sepoy in the native dress. A Hindoo soldier. A Brigbasi

Volume IV: 50. Basket-maker and his Wife (Frontispiece) / 51. Sugar Mill / 52. Hiñdoo Ploughman and Herdsman / 53. A Sóurer and his Wife / 54. Apparatus for Distillation / 55. Carpenter and Mason / 56. A Column from å temple at Benares / 57. A Choultry / 58. Taje Mahl / 59. Beater of Cotton ard his Wife / 60. Cotton Spinning / 61. Winding cotton / 62. Preparation of the warp for Weaving / 63. Weaver joining broken Threads / 64. Weaving / 65. Cloth Beater / 66. Cloth Painter / 67. Dyer / 68. Silk Dyer / 69. Winding Silk / 70. Ironer / 71. Malabar Tailor / 72. School Master

Volume V: 73. Potter's Wife (frontispiece) / 74. Potter / 75. Horse Breaker and Blacksmith / 76. Gold Beater / 77. Goldsmith / 78. Gilder / 79. Brazier / 80. Brazier's Wife / 81. Shell Cutter / 82. Water Carrier / 83. Telinga Barber and Malabar Barber / 84. Mahratta Shoemaker / 85. Catamaran and Chelingh / 86. Perfumer / 87. Dealer in Betel, Areca, &c / 88. Dealer in Pearls.

Volume VI: 89. Mahometan Woman Travelling (Frontispiece) / 90. Chess Board and Spring Bow for Shooting Tigers / 91. Tumblers / 92. Interior of Fort St. George with Rope Dancers, Tumblers, &c. / 93. Hindoo Jugglers swallowing a Sword and balancing a Buffalo / 94. Conjuror and Juggler with cups and balls / 95. Snake Charmer / 96. Wrestlers / 97. Tiger-Hunt / 98. Bengal Palanquin / 99. Mogul Palanquin / 100. Dolee / 101. Gadee / 102. Peon / 103. Head Peon

A rare book with 103 colour plates based on Company Paintings published in 1822, complete in 6 volumes.

1st edition. These are the six volumes on India from the 42-volume series which aimed "to increase the store of knowledge concerning the various branches of the great family of Man." (J R Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, p. 19) These volumes cover the religion, arts, geography, customs, and professional activities of the people of India. The information is gathered from various contemporary sources and has some newly added details and is accompanied by beautifully coloured engravings by Shoberl. The engravings were based on drawings done by a Hindu artist ‘under the inspection of M Leger, former governor of Pondicherry’ that ‘are now in the possession of M Nepveu, bookseller of Paris’ (p. xvi). The author has admiration for the ancient roots of Hindu civilisation, coupled with a surprise that: ‘amidst the ruins of these master-pieces of arts, the manners and customs of the natives seem to have remained unchanged, and exhibit the same features under which they were portrayed by the Greeks, who visited India two thousand years ago’ (viii).

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