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Louis-Mathieu Langles, Monuments Anciens et Modernes de l'Hindoustan: Decrits sous le double rapport archaeologique et pittoresque, et precedes d'une notice geographique, d'une notice historique, et d'un discours sur la religion, la legislation et les moeurs des hindou, Paris: P Didot, 1821

(Set of 2 Volumes)
Volume I: [viii], 4, xii, engraved title page with a large vignette after Henry Salt, half-title page, 268 pages including a folding table, Atlas, 3 engraved maps hand-coloured in outline
Volume II: Half-title page, 251 pages including 82 engraved plates, 4 pages errata and 2 pages list of plates in rear
143 engraved plates in all (12 hand-coloured in Volume I including 24 plates after Thomas Daniell)
19th century brown Morocco, ruled in blind, gilt corner-pieces, original marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, spines gilt in compartments, preserved in modern customised (with toggles) book box of Robert & Maria Travis (each)
Book: 40 x 29.5 x 5 cm (each)
Solander box: 41.2 x 30.5 x 6.2 cm (each)

LIST OF PLATES
VOLUME I
1. Map. Carte de L'Hindoustan, Bharata Khanda.../ 2. Map. L'Inde avec ses divisions politiques au temps de la mort de L'Empereur Aureng-Zeyb / 3. Map. L'Inde avec ses divisions politiques au temps de la mort de L'Empereur Akbar... / 4. Princesse Indienne.../ 5. Dame Portugaise de L'Inde.../ 6. Plan de la Grande Pagode de Siringam.../ 7. Sculptures Coloriees qui Ornent L'Enceinte Sacree de la Pagode de Siringam/ 8. Dame Indienne a sa Toilette (Sepia)/ 9. Dame Indienne tenant une Sitarah/ 10. Indra, Dieu du Firmament, assis au milieu de son Jardin (Nandana) (Sepia)/ 11. Jeune Indienne jalouse des yeux de sa Gazelle/ 12. [Not Captioned] Assorted Pendants/ 13. Aurenz-Zeyb recevant la Tete de son frere Dara-Chekouh (Sepia) / 14. Plan de la Pagode de Djembakrichna / 15. Dame Indienne / 16. Armes Indiennes Offensives et Defensives / 17. As above / 18. Dynastie de Beydjapour (Visapour) (Sepia) / 19. Nabab passant ume Revue (Sepia) / 20. Sevadjy, Fondateur de l'Empire Mahratte (Sepia)

[VOLUME II only uncoloured plates]

The present lot is a set of two volumes of illustrations and text by Louis-Mathieu Langles that contain geographical and historical observations of the Indian subcontinent. The numerous plates in the present lot, some of which include 24 plates engraved from Thomas Daniell's illustrations, are comprised of architectural plans and views of Indian culture, miniatures, sculptures, jewelry and similar artefacts. Langles was considered a scholar of Oriental studies in the 19th century and organised the Ecole des Langues Orientales Vivantes (School of Modern Oriental Languages) that was attached to the National Library in Paris. He also published a six-volume book titled Collection Portative de Voyages in the 1790s.

PROVENANCE
From the Collection of Robert and Maria Travis (book plate)
Lot 128E, Bloomsbury Auctions, Travel Books From the Collection of Robert and Maria Travis, 2007
Acquired from the above
Important Private Collection, New Delhi

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