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Charles D’Oyly, Antiquities of Dacca, [London: J Landseer, Circa 1814-1827]

20, [8] pages including 15 later hand-coloured engraved plates by John Landseer and others after D'Oyly, one engraved plate of “Facsimile of an Inscription in the Great Kuttra”, 4 half-page later hand-coloured engraved illustrations by Landseer after George Chinnery, all on India proof paper; period green half morocco by Henington, marble paper board covered with gilt-lettered morocco title label on the upper board, marbled end papers and all edges gilt

The above collation refers the present copy, which is without title page; imprint from plate publication lines, which are dated between 1814 and 1827. Text p. [1] headed 'Some Account of the City of Dacca'. Published and engraved by J. Landseer from drawings by Sir C. D'Oyly, Bart. Engraved half-page illustration on page [1] misdated '1716'.

LIST OF PLATES
1. Frontispiece (?) Account of Dacca* / 2. Mosque on the Mu-Bazar Road, Dacca / 3. Ruins of Tungy Bridge / 4. Paugla Pool, with part of Dacca in the extreme distance / 5. Paugla Pool, from the River / 6. Modern Habitations at Dacca, 1823* / 7. The Great Kuttra / 8. The Small Kuttra with its enclosed Mosque, Dacca / 9. Bastion of the Lal Bagh, Dacca / 10. The Fort, & North Gateway of the Great Kuttra, Dacca / 11. Mosque in the suburbs of Dacca / 12. The Chouk (or Market Place) and Husseinee Delaun/ 13. Approach to Tungy* / 14. Part of Dacca from the Douillac Nulla / 15. A Tantee or Indian Weaver, 1826* / 16. Remains of a Bridge near the Tantee Bazar / 17. Mosque on the Mug-Bazar Road, Dacca / 18. Part of the Interior of the City of Dacca / 19. Mosque on the Booragunga Branch of the Ganges
* denotes a half page illustration.

Sir Charles D'Oyly was born in 1781 in Murshidabad, Bengal. He briefly relocated to the UK with his family to pursue his formal education, before returning to Calcutta in 1808 to serve the East India Company in various capacities until his retirement in 1833. During his time in British India, D'Oyly served as a senior member in the Board of Customs, Salt, Opium and the Marine. He also held the esteemed positions of Collector of Dacca (1808-12), Collector of Customs in Calcutta (1813-21), Opium Agent and the Commercial Resident of Patna (1821-31).

Over the course of his long stay in Dacca, Patna and Calcutta, D'Oyly was able to refine his artistic skills under the guidance of his mentor George Chinnery, as well as his second wife Elizabeth Jane Ross (a painter) and several local artists with whom he worked closely. He was considered to be one of the finest liners of the time, with contributions in various publications including the present lot, Bahar Amateur Lithographic Scrap (1829), Views of Calcutta & Environs (1848), Sketches of a New Road in a Journey from Calcutta to Gyah (1860), and the burlesque poem "Tom Raw, the Griffin".

During his position as Collector of Dhaka from 1808 to 1817, he painted a wide variety of pictures, especially the Mughal ruins. He decided to publish the drawings relating to Dhaka in the form of a folio-size book.

After engraving, the drawings of D'Oyly were published in London from 1823 onwards. A short historical account of Dhaka was also appended to each book. James Atkinson wrote these accounts, accompanied by engravings done by Landseer. These books came to be known as Antiquities of Daccaand became important social documents.

Provenance
From the Collection of Edmund Smith and Robert and Maria Travis (bookplate)
John C. Ropes (ownership inscription dated London, September 26, 1874)

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