Simpson, William and Sir John William Kaye.

first edition, folio (620 x 425mm.), title printed in red and black, chromolithographed dedication, 50 chromolithographed plates after William Simpson, all mounted on card, most with thin paper guards, contemporary green morocco, sides tooled in blind and gilt, spine in compartments with raised bands gilt, gilt edges, upper hinge detached, some spotting to text and mostly to margins of plates, a few plates with minor paper adhesion, short marginal tear to mount of plate 46, binding slightly worn

no copy in the british library; cf. Godrej, P. and P. Rohatgi. Scenic Splendours: India through the printed image. (London, 1989), pp.98-99

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

very rare, we have traced only one copy of this work at auction in over 35 years (The Library of Robert and Maria Travis, sale in these rooms, 26 May 2005, lot 261).

Simpson (1823-1899) spent two and a half years travelling in India from his arrival in Calcutta in October 1859 to his departure from Bombay in February 1862. Places he visited in the north included Lahore, Simla, the upper reaches of the Sutlej as far as Chini (higher than the Frasers had been able to explore), Agra and Lucknow. "Simpson spent a few weeks in early 1861 with Lord and Lady Canning in Central India. While they were at Jubbulpore, Simpson decided to visit Rajasthan: 'It was rather a wild thing fo go off all by myself... The ordinary traveller who "does" India sees Bombay, Calcutta, Benares, Agra and Delhi, but the vast spaces between these noted places he sees nothing of. It is in these spaces that the real India exists.' '' (Godrej and Rohatgi).