Cyclopedia of india in three heavily illustrated volumes, printed 1907-9

The Cyclopedia of India. Biographical – Historical – Administrative – Commercial. The Cyclopedia Publishing Coy. [Calcutta] 1907 – 1909. 1st edition 3 volumes 4to [

1907-8-9 3 volumes Quarto. Vol I: Coloured frontis, approx 340 portraits from photographs [mainly small but some full plate], approx 90 other photo illustrations, 400pp, [v. Addenda & Index]; Vol II: Coloured frontis, approx 260 portraits, approx 120 other photo illustrations, 390pp, [v Addenda & Index]; Vol III: Coloured frontis & 1 other plate, approx 300 portraits, approx 180 other photo illustrations. Publisher’s half leather gilt with green cloth covered boards, front boards with gilt badge of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, some fading to spine and very minor rubbing [mainly confined to vol III], internally extremely clean with no previous ownership marks. As the work was printed over three years it is difficult to find a complete set. It is a well produced and particularly lavishly illustrated work printed throughout on good quality art paper. The illustrations include a vast number of useful portraits identifying numerous military, high officials, diplomats, civil servants, business figures, British and Indian. Volume III has a good number of Indian rulers and aristocrats and others are scattered through the other volumes. Each volume deals with a wide range of subjects and areas but also has a substantial biographical section which, unlike most who’s who type books, has substantial illustration.      feb3/2