The People of India. A Series of Photographic Illustrations, with Descriptive Letterpress, of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan

John Forbes Watson and John William Kaye, The People of India. A Series of Photographic Illustrations, with Descriptive Letterpress, of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan, London: India Museum (later W. H. Allen & Co.), 1868–1875

Volumes II and VIII (of 8)
Two folio volumes (each approx. 555 × 430 mm), together comprising 115 original oval albumen prints, each laid down within printed borders, with facing tissue guards and detailed letterpress descriptions.

Volume II (1868): [4], 224 pp., with 57 photographic plates (Plates 56–110), with detailed letterpress.
Includes notable images of Himalayan border tribes and northern caste groups: Mechis, Sunwars, Limboos, Magars, Goorkhas, Rajpoot clans of Oude and Benares, Bhats, Pathans, Pasees. among others.
Regional breakdown: Darjeeling (1); Nipal (20); Oude (12); Benaras (7); Mirzapore (2); Behar (1); Allahabad (8); Moradabad (5)

Volume VIII (1875): [4], 263 pp., with 58 photographic plates (Plates 406–468), with detailed letterpress.
Covers South India, Nilgiri Hill tribes, and colonial Southeast Asia: Lingayets, Coorgs, Todas, Kotas, Irulas, Badagas, Yenadies, Shanar Christians, Khonds, Burmese, Kooki, Bugis, Malay tribes and others.
Regional breakdown: Mysore (17); Coorg (8); Neelgerries / Nilgiris (14); Chingleput (2); Madras (9); Travancore (2); Mysore and Southern India (1); Kattack (1); Khondistan (2); Malay Peninsula (1); Singapoor (3); Chittagong (1); Lower Provinces (3); Burmah (3); Burmah and Pegu (1); Arracan (1)

Contemporary publisher’s deluxe Victorian binding of full maroon cloth over bevelled boards, elaborately stamped in gilt and blind; upper cover with large central gilt medallion featuring a stylised sunburst enclosing a rosette motif, flanked by two gilt-tooled title panels reading “THE PEOPLE” and “OF INDIA” respectively, each bordered by floral cornerpieces; outer border panelled with a wide gilt and black scrollwork frame incorporating repetitive botanical and geometric designs, including palmettes and stylised lotus motifs at each corner (each)
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