Essays On Indian Antiquities, Historic, Numismatic, And Palæographic, Of The Late James Prinsep, F.R.S., Secretary To The Asiatic Society Of Bengal; To Which Are Added His Useful Tables, Illustrative Of Indian History, Chronology, Modern Coinages, Weights, Measures, Etc. Edited, With Notes, And Additional Matter, By Edward Thomas, Late Of The Bengal Civil Service; Member Of The Asiatic Societies Of Calcutta, London, And Paris. In Two Volumes. - Vol. I. (II.) With Numerous Illustrations.
Vol. I: xvi, xvi, 435, [1] p., pl. 1-10, 12-36. (Pl. 11, 11a-d are bound in Vol. II., as called-for by the List Of Plates.) - Vol. II: vii, [1], 224, xii, 336 p., pl. 37-40, 40a, 41-3, 11, 11a-d, 44-46, and three unnumbered plates (facing pp. 52, 168, 170).
Contents
Vol. I: [Half-t., t.p., dedic., errata-slip] - Preface - Contents - List Of Plates - Memoir Of The Author (by H.T. Prinsep) - [Text, and pl.]; [colophon]. - Vol. II: [Half-t., t.p.] - Contents - List Of Plates - [Text, and pl.] -[Title page, 'Useful Tables, Illustrative Of The Coins, Weights, And Measures Of British India ... 1858'] - Preface - Contents And Tables; Plates - [Text, and pl.] - General Index; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
Most plates are signed as drawn by, engraved by, or drawn and engraved by, J. Prinsep. But pl. 9-11d are signed as [drawn] by 'E.T.' and pl. 42 is signed as [drawn] by 'G.H.F.' Two are signed as engraved by Hurree (12, 25), one as 'zinco.' by C. Chabot' (13); many as lithographed by W. West or West & Co. Most carry the imprint of S. Austin, Hertford, as publisher; a few of him as printer. A note on p. xiv of Vol. I reads, 'Of the total number of 51 plates to be found in this work, 21 are originals of James Prinsep's own engraving; four have been copied from his plates in the 'Journal Asiatic Society' by Mr. Basire; 17 have been most accurately reproduced by Messrs. Ford and West, and nine are new designs, prepared expressly for illustration of the editorial additions to this reprint.'
The text-printer is named on the title-page versos and in the colophons: 'Stephen Austin, Printer, Hertford.'
The work is dedicated by the Editor to Horace Hayman Wilson, 'The Early Coadjutor Of James Prinsep In Oriental Research'.
Summary Note
The 'Useful Tables' printed in Volume II has its own title-page, reading: 'Useful Tables, Illustrative Of The Coins, Weights, And Measures Of British India; Together With Chronological Tables And Genealogical Lists, Having Reference To India And Other Kingdoms Of Asia. By The Late James Prinsep, F.R.S., Secretary To The Asiatic Society Of Bengal. Edited, With Notes, And Additional Matter, By Edward Thomas, Late Of The Bengal Civil Service; Member Of The Asiatic Societies Of Calcutta, London, And Paris. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1858.' One plate (No. 2) carries the date of 1833.
The texts and plates of Volume I describe coins; those of Volume II, alphabets, inscriptions and coins.
Provenance
Presented by Edward Thomas in 1866 (see RA Annual Report for 1866, p. 47).
Binding Note
19th-century light brown cloth, upper and lower covers decorated in blind with Mughal motifs; spine lettered 'Prinsep's Indian Antiquities By Thomas. - Vol. I. (II.) John Murray London'.
Antiquities - Coins - Inscriptions - Chronologies - Weights - Weights and measures - India - History
Art history - Numismatics - Epigraphy - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Lithographs - Great Britain - 19th century