A History of the Boondelas.

£8,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

A truly fine copy, in the original boards, of the first translation of Lal Kavi's Chhatraprakash, his epic poem recounting the successes of his patron Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela, and one of the first books to contain Indian printed lithographs. The uncut edges in this copy have preserved the usually trimmed plates in their full aspect including the publisher's imprint. Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela (1649-1731), founder of Panna State, was long renowned as one of the few successful opponents of the Mughal Empire who stretched his independent rule across most of Bundelkhand. Pogson (1787-1843) used additional sources to extend the account up to British occupation in 1803 and the siege of Kalinjur in 1812. The ALP 'was the first commercially viable lithographic press in India and the premier lithographic press in Calcutta during the 1820s, producing more works than any other press, and in an impressive variety'. This is probably the 4th or 5th book to ever include Indian printed lithographs, and the combination of both typography and lithography from two separate presses is testament to the burgeoning interest in printing in India. Rare. The subscriber's list shows only 135 copies were produced, and only 6 are extant in UK institutions. First edition; 4to (28.5 x 22.5 cm); 6 lithographed plates on india paper, one of which double-page, 1 large folding lithographed map, 2 lithograph plans, 1 lithographed folding table, lithographed vignette title, discreet bookplates to pastedown,

• Binding: Hardcover

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