The Indian Empire Illustrated [48 parts]

Robert Montgomery Martin, The Indian Empire Illustrated, London: London Printing and Publishing Company Limited, 48 parts, [1858–c.1861]

Forty-eight original fascicules of The Indian Empire Illustrated are each housed in their original orange pictorial wrappers, which feature elaborate wood-engraved cover vignettes depicting a royal procession with an elephant and domed Mughal-style architecture; they are printed in multiple parts and decorative borders with titles printed in black and red. Cover with the letterpress caption “MUTINIES IN INDIA!” and the subtitle “From the Earliest Period to the Suppression of the Revolt.” These fascicules are stitched along the spine, and the total number of illustrations varies per issue, typically ranging from 1 to 4 per part. Additionally, some parts include extra notices to subscribers and announcements for “Premium Plates,” notably featuring the Storming of Delhi engraving in the final part. Housed within a bespoke archival solander chest, the box is covered in hand-marbled paper over blue morocco-style cloth sides, with the lid secured with ribbon ties and the interior lined in textured red faux-suede marbled paper. A gilt-lettered black leather label is attached to the side panel, reading “THE INDIAN EMPIRE ILLUSTRATED/PART 1–48.”
11 x 7.5 in (28.3 x 19.5 cm) (each)
6.75 x 12.75 x 9.75 in (17.5 x 32.5 x 25 cm) (solander box)
0 x 0 in (0 x 0 cm)