Important Notice

More Images

Captain Melville Grindlay, Scenery, Costumes and Architecture chiefly on the Western Side of India, London: R Ackermann; Elder, Smith and Co., 1826-1830

(Six parts in 2 Volumes)
134 pages including part titles in parts II-VI, advertisement leaf in parts II, IV & VI. Engraved title with hand-coloured vignette, lithographed title for Volume II, mounted on India paper, and thirty-six aquatint plates on thick paper, engraved by R G Reeve, T Fielding, G Hunt, C Bentley, and others, after drawings by Captain Grindlay, William Westall, Clarkson Stanfield, D. Roberts, Copley Fielding, W. Daniell, and others.
Half leather bound with leather corners and brown boards with gilt text at the spine along with 5 raised bands
41.5 x 33 x 2.5 cm (each)

"Next to Daniell, the most attractive colour plate book on India." - TOOLEY

Captain Robert Melville Grindlay (1786-1877), founder of the Grindlays Bank and a self-taught artist, arrived in India in 1803. Only 17 years old at the time, he worked with the East India Company's military service and served with the 7th Bombay Native Infantry from 1804 to 1820. During these years, he travelled widely across the country, and made numerous drawings and sketches on the landscapes and life around him, including views of Bombay, Gujarat and Ellora.

The present lot is a compilation of these plates, which he published upon his return to England, and is a fine copy of one of the most beautiful colour plate books on India. It comprises 36 aquatints and hand-coloured plates drawn by Grindlay, William Westall and William Daniell RA, among others (engraved by R G Reeves, Theodore Fielding and more). Grindlay went on to found Leslie & Grindlay, an agency house, in 1828. Initially, the agency helped secure travel arrangements of its clientele, to India and back, procuring sea passages, clearing and shipping baggage. The services graduated to banking operations...[and] by 1852 - the year Grindlay retired the firm had become the most distinguished bankers and agents to the civil and military officials of the business community and the British army in India. (Arup K Chatterjee, Robert Melville, Scroll.in, 6 March 2018, online)

Scenery, Costumes and Architecture chiefly on the Western Side of India was first published in six parts, begun in 1826 by Ackermann but taken over by Smith, Elder & Co. It was eventually completed in 1830. The book was also issued by Smith, Elder & Co. in one or two volumes.

LIST OF PLATES

Part I

[Title page].
1. Scene in Bombay
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by R.G.Reeve
2. Approach of the Monsoon. Bombay Harbour
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by T. Fielding
3. The Shaking Minarets at Ahmedabad
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by T. Fielding
4. Ancient Temple at Hulwud
- drawn by F. Witherington and engraved by G. Hunt
5. The Rajah of Cutch with his Vassalls
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by R.G.Reeve
6. Mountains of Aboo in Guzerat
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by T. Fielding

Part II

7. Scene in Bombay
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by R. G. Reeve
8. Approach to Bore Ghaut
- drawnby W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by T. Fielding
9. View in the Bore Ghaut
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by T. Fielding
10. View from the Top of the Bore Ghaut
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by T. Fielding
11. Dowlutabad the ancient Deo Gurh
- drawn by W. Daniel, R.A and engraved by R. G. Reeve
12. Great Excavated Temple at Ellora
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by G. Hunt

Part III

13. Preparation for a Suttee, or the Immolation of a Hindoo Widow
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by R. G. Reeve
14. Tombs of the Kings of Golconda
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by G. Hunt
15. Hermitage at Kurrungalle in Ceylon
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by R. G. Reeve
16. Fortress of Bowrie in Rajpootana
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by C. Bentley
17. North West View of the Fort of Bombay
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by R. G. Reeve
18. Morning Viewfrom Colliann near Bombay
- drawn by W. Daniel, R.A and engraved by R.G. Reeve

Part IV

19. The British Residency at Hyderabad
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by R. G. Reeve
20. The Roza at Mehmoodabad in Guzerat or Tomb of the Vizier of Sultan Mehmood
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by C. Bentley
21. Fishing Boats in the Monsoon. Northern part of Bombay harbour
- drawn by C. Stanfield and engraved by C. Bentley
22. View of the Bridge near Baroda in Guzerat
- drawn by Captain Grindlay and engraved by C. Bentley
23. The Town and Pass of Boondi in Rajpootana
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by C. Bentley
24. View near Tonk in Rajpootana
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by R.G.Reeve

Part V

25. Interior of the Cave Temple of Indra Subba at Ellora
- drawn by D. Roberts and engraved by H. Pyall
26. Scene in Kattiawar. Travellers and Escort
- drawn by C. Stanfield and engraved by C. Bentley
27. View in the Island of Ceylon from the Residence of Sir Alexr. Johnston F.R.S. &c. &c
- drawn by Copley Fielding and engraved by R. G. Reeve
28. Aurungabad. From the Ruins of Arunzebe's Palace
- drawn by W. Purser and engraved byC. F. Hunt
29. Entrance of the Great cave Temple of Elephanta near Bombay
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by C.Bentley
30. Interior of the Great Cave Temple of Elephanta near Bombay
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by J. Baily

Part VI

31. View of the Sassor in the Deccan
- drawn by W. Purser and engraved by R. G. Reeve
32. The sacred Town and Temple of Dwarka
- drawn by W. Purser and engraved by R. G. Reeve
33. Exterior of the Great Cave Temple of Elephanta near Bombay
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by S. G. Hughes
34. The great triad in the Cave of Elephanta near Bombay
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by T. Edge
35. View of the City and Fortress of Tonk in Rajpootana
- drawn by W. Westall, A.R.A and engraved by C. F. Hunt
36. Portico of a Hindoo temple with other Hindoo and Mahometan Buildings
- drawn by D. Robert and engraved by R. G. Reeve

Reference: J R Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, 442