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Anonymous, The Illustrated Times, London: David Bogue, 1857–1858

2 volumes (Volume V: July–December 1857; Volume VI: January–June 1858)

Volume V, comprising nos. 115–142, 4 July–26 December 1857, continuously paginated: [viii], 448 pp. Contents as follows:
No. 115 (4 July): viii, 16 pp.; Nos. 116 & 117 (11 July): pp. 17–48; No. 118 (18 July): pp. 49–64; No. 119 (25 July): pp. 65–80; No. 120 (1 August): pp. 81–96; No. 121 (8 August): pp. 97–112; No. 122 (15 August): pp. 113–128; No. 123 (22 August): pp. 129–144; No. 124 (29 August): pp. 145–160; No. 125 (5 September): pp. 161–176; No. 126 (12 September): pp. 177–192; No. 127 (19 September): pp. 193–208; No. 128 (26 September): pp. 209–224; No. 129 (3 October): pp. 225–240; No. 130 (10 October): pp. 241–256; No. 131 (17 October): pp. 257–272; No. 132 (24 October): pp. 273–288; No. 133 (31 October): pp. 289–304; No. 134 (7 November): pp. 305–320; No. 135 (14 November): pp. 321–336; No. 136 (21 November): pp. 337–352; No. 137 (28 November): pp. 353–368; No. 138 (5 December): pp. 369–384; No. 139 (12 December): pp. 385–400; Nos. 140 & 141 (19 December): pp. 401–432; No. 142 (26 December): pp. 433–448.

Volume VI, comprising nos. 143–169, 2 January–26 June 1858, continuously paginated: [viii], 452 pp. Contents as follows:
No. 143 (2 January 1858): viii, 16; No. 144 (9 January): pp. 17–32; No. 145 (16 January): pp. 33–48; No. 146 (16 January): pp. 49–72; No. 147 (23 January): pp. 73–88; No. 148 (30 January): pp. 89–108; No. 149 (6 February): pp. 109–132; No. 150 (13 February): pp. 133–148; No. 151 (20 February): pp. 149–164; No. 152 (27 February): pp. 165–180; No. 153 (6 March): pp. 181–196; No. 154 (13 March): pp. 197–212; No. 155 (20 March): pp. 213–228; No. 156 (27 March): pp. 229–244; No. 157 (3 April): pp. 245–260; No. 158 (10 April): pp. 261–276; No. 159 (17 April): pp. 277–292; No. 160 (24 April): pp. 293–308; No. 161 (1 May): pp. 309–324; No. 162 (8 May): pp. 325–340; No. 163 (15 May): pp. 341–356; No. 164 (22 May): pp. 357–372; No. 165 (29May): pp. 373–388; No. 166 (5 June): pp. 389–404; No. 167 (12 June): pp. 405–420; No. 168 (19 June): pp. 421–436; No. 169 (26 June): pp. 437–452
Hundreds of pages profusely illustrated with wood engravings throughout most of them by Soltykoff, including dramatic double-page war scenes, courtly portraits, satirical vignettes, and detailed architectural views; contemporary fine bindings of half black morocco over marbled paper boards, spines gilt in five compartments with gilt text. (each)
39 x 27 cm (each)

EMPIRE IN CRISIS: VISUAL REPORTING OF THE 1857–58 INDIAN MUTINY FROM THE PAGES OF THE ILLUSTRATED TIMES

These handsomely bound volumes of The Illustrated Times—Vol. V (July–December 1857) and Vol. VI (January–June 1858)—constitute a near-continuous visual chronicle of one of the most turbulent periods in British imperial history: the Indian Uprising of 1857–58. Lavishly illustrated with wood engravings of political events, battlefield scenes, architectural views, and ethnographic subjects, the volumes provide an invaluable pictorial record of British visual journalism during the mid-Victorian empire.

Of particular note are confirmed contributions by Prince Alexis Soltykoff (1806–1859), the Russian nobleman, traveller, and Orientalist illustrator. A number of engravings in these volumes bear the attribution “After Prince Alexis Soltykoff,” including “Night Travelling in the Punjab” (1857) and “The Court of the Rajah of Gwalior” (1858)—examples of which are held in the British Museum and documented in contemporary press accounts. Soltykoff’s refined draughtsmanship, shaped by his extensive travels through India and Persia, adds a layer of visual authority and aesthetic sophistication to the journal’s coverage of South Asian subjects.

Soltykoff’s contributions, combined with those of other leading illustrators of the period, elevate these volumes beyond ephemeral journalism. They stand as richly illustrated cultural artefacts that bridge reportage, colonial spectacle, and 19th-century artistic sensibility. Complete annual sets of The Illustrated Times from this period are now scarce, especially those encompassing Soltykoff-attributed material and preserved in durable period bindings.

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