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Captain Robert Smith, Asiatic Costumes; A Series of Forty-Four Coloured Engravings, from designs taken from Life: With a description to each subject, London: R Ackermann, 1828

[iv] and 88 pages; 44 fine later hand-coloured engraved plates; contemporary full leather bound with gilt text and decoration at the spine with 4 raised bands
18.5 x 11 x 3 cm

LIST OF PLATES
1. Dancing Boy / 2. A Nantch, or Singing Girl / 3. Nantch girl, or Dancing Girl / 4. A Nantch Girl, or Singing Girl / 5. A Nantch Girl, or Singing Girl / 6. A Female playing on the Tumboors / 7. Musician playing on the Tumboora / 8. Musician, playing on the Saringee / 9. Musician, playing on the Cymbals / 10. Musician, with a pair of Drums / 11. Musician, with a Khole or Drum / 12. Khidmutgar, or Waiter / 13. Khidmutgar, or Fly-flapper / 14. Barburdar, or Steward / 15. Hoqqu-burdar, or Pipe-bearer / 16. Chob-dar, or Mace bearer / 17. Choakee-dar, or Watchman / 18. Shaprasse, or Porter / 19. Suntoo-burdar, or Running Footman / 20. Dak, Wala, or Postman / 21. A Surcar, or Agent / 22. Ch-hata-wala, or Umbrella carrier / 23. Barburdar, or Fan-bearer / 24. Dace or Ayah - A Nurse / 25. A Girl stringing Flowers for Wreaths / 26. Woman preparing Thread for the Loom / 27. A Gardener / 28. Native of Bengal, selling Sweetmeats/ 29. Bihishtee, or Water Carrier / 30. Dood-h-wala, or Milkman / 31. Bangy-Wala / 32. A Ryot, or Ploughman / 33. Sepoy, or Native Soldier / 34. A Native Lady in her Palkee / 35. Tonjon / 36. A Native of Rank on an Elephant / 37. Moonshee, or Interpreter / 38. A Mussulman / 39. A Brahmin / 40. Fuqeer, or Begging Friar / 41. Fuqeer, or Enthusiast / 42. Fuqeer, or Beggar / 43. A Burmese Man / 44. A Burmese Woman.

Captain Robert Smith was a Scot who served in India and subsequently settled in Dublin when appointed Athlone pursuivant-at-arms. He is presumably the same Robert Smith renowned for his fine views of Prince of Wales Island which were engraved by William Daniell. The plates are rare depicting a full range of Indian trades and society and also include two Burmese subjects.

In the preface, the author describes how he made most of the drawings himself along with notes on the spot and accentuated his work with copies of costumes drawn by local artists as well.

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