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a) Coronation Durbar Delhi 1911, Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India, 1911

387 pages with 2 folding heliozincographed plans in end pocket, including plan of durbar arena and large colour map of city showing durbar area, camping areas for various contingents, show grounds, and arena. Title page printed in red and black; original red cloth, front board lettered in gilt with George V's cypher in gilt, blind panels to boards, purple surface-paper endpapers.
15.6 x 10.5 x 1.3 cm

This participant handbook is the first and only edition and printing to detail the final of the great imperial durbars. Celebrating the coronation of King George V and his consort Queen Mary, it was the only durbar attended by a reigning British monarch.

"Edwardian Britain may have been more reticent than resplendent, but in the East in 1911 a fabulous feast of pageantry and pomp heralded the dawn of the modern age. India and her 315 million subjects were 'the brightest jewel in the Imperial diadem' when King George V's coronation as King-Emperor was held in Delhi. He was the only monarch to visit British India, once as Prince of Wales in 1906 and once to be invested with his imperial title" (Henton).

George's presence in India, along with the "Durbar Boon" (a package of social and political measures including the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi), was a response to growing Indian nationalist feeling. The end compartment contains two folding maps that illustrate the magnitude of the celebrations.

b) Durbar Souvenir, 1911-12, printed at Caxton House, Bombay by G.W.& A.E.Claridge, Circa 1912

66 photographic plates and a large 5-fold plate titled "Panorama of the Delhi Durbar, 12th December, 1911" by Bourne and Shepherd; green paper boards
18.8 x 25.5 x 0.5 cm

(Set of two)

NON-EXPORTABLE