A Sanskrit eulogy for Queen Victoria, composed in 1897, wouldn’t have been exceptional. After all, India was a British colony and she was the ruler — since ancient times, top authors of the day have composed elaborate eulogies for the rulers. Today, however, it does sound extraordinary. Titled “Srimad Victoria Mahatmyan, The Greatness of the Empress Victoria,” this eulogy by author Raja Sourindro Mohun Tagore, is one of the rare books coming up for auction at StoryLTD’s online sale on August 16 and 17. The Sanskrit ode to Queen Victoria, set to music and accompanied by an English translation, was published to mark the 60th anniversary of her reign. It was published in London by Cassell and Company, Limited. Going by the rarity of the volume, it is likely to be one of the most sought after lots at the auction. It is estimated at $760 - $910 (Rs 50,000 - Rs 60,000). This is the first ever auction of antiquarian books being organized by Saffronart, the parent company of StoryLTD. It features rare books on a spectrum of themes, but not limited to, the British Raj and the subcontinent. Many of these books include lavish color illustrations by travelers to the subcontinent who recorded local subjects, sceneries and events as they witnessed them on their elaborate journeys through this vast colony of the British Empire. The rare books date from 1700s to the early 20th century, and all are non-exportable. It is not a surprise that the most expensive lot on offer is the two-volume book, “Oriental Scenery” by the renowned uncle-nephew team of Thomas and William Daniell, who spent nearly a decade in India (1786-1793) creating drawings, paintings, aquatints, and etchings of the country’s landscape, its people and practices. Upon returning to England, the Daniells started the publication of their exhaustive work in six volumes, titled “Oriental Scenery.” The two volumes on offer at the auction, published in 1812, are estimated at $15,155 - $22,730 (Rs 10 lakh - Rs 15 lakh). The total of 51 lots in the auction cover a wide range of topics and offer an array of glimpses into the way of life in India during the two centuries preceding the country’s birth as a modern nation in 1947.While creating general landscape views of the subcontinent and portraits of the royals were two most popular subjects among the early European travelers, as is evident from the number of books published on these topics, many tenacious scholars created chronicles on the mundane things of life as well — the clothes people wore, the temples they worshipped in, the architecture in important regional centers, the scenes at market places, flora and fauna (including a detailed book on the serpents of the Coromandel Coast), the sports people played, and more. The lone book on finance is titled “Indian Currency and Finance” by John Maynard Keynes, published in London in 1913. Interesting is the special chart it has showing “the rate of discount at the Presidency Bank of Bengal.” It is estimated at $1,895 - $2,275 (Rs 1.25 lakh - Rs 1.5 lakh).The views of the British presidency headquarters of Bombay and Calcutta, detailed in quite a few books, throw a light on the earliest shape that these later-day metropolises had. They resemble fishing villages, but the commercial activity at these places, as captured in the drawings and paintings, does point towards their future as the two most important cities of the subcontinent from second half of the 19th century. A rare printed copy is Emily Eden’s important work, titled “Portraits of the Princes and People of Eden.” It is probably one of only a handful of copies published in this form. Through vivid portraits and rich illustrations, Eden skilfully captured the lives of Indian rulers and their families. She came to India accompanying her brother George, Lord Auckland (1784- 1849), who served as Governor-General from 1835-1842. Lord Auckland often received local rulers and their families in his office, giving his sister a chance to document their lives. Top 10 at Antiquarian Books Auction at StoryLTD1. “Oriental Scenery” by Thomas and William Daniell, 1812, $15,155 - $22,730 (Rs 10 lakh - Rs 15 lakh)2. “Portraits of the Princes and People of Eden” by Emily Eden, 1844, $14,395 - $15,155 (Rs 9.5 lakh - Rs 10 lakh)3. “Des Prinzen Waldemar Von Preussen Nach Indien” by Alexander von Humboldt, 1853, $13,640 - $15,155 (Rs 9 lakh - Rs 10 lakh)3. “Views of Calcutta Environs” by Sir Charles D’Oyly Bart, 1848, $13,640 - $15,155 (Rs 9 lakh - Rs 10 lakh)5. “Recollections of India” by Charles Stewart Hardinge, 1847, $12,125 - $12,880 (Rs 8 lakh - Rs 8.5 lakh)6. “Scenery, Costumes and Architecture Chiefly on the Western Side of India” by Captain Robert Melville Grindlay, 1826, $9,095 - $12,125 (Rs 6 lakh - Rs 8 lakh)7. “A Picturesque Voyage to India; by the Way of China” by Thomas and William Daniell, 1810, $7,200 - $7,580 (Rs 4.75 lakh - Rs 5 lakh)8. “Views of India, St. Helena, And Car Nicobar Drawn From Nature and On Stone” by Major John Luard, 1830, $6,065 - $7,580 (Rs 4 lakh - Rs 5 lakh)9. “Oriental Memoirs” by James Forbes, 1813, $5,455 - $6,065 (Rs 3.6 lakh - Rs 4 lakh)10. “An Account of Indian Serpents, Collected on the Coast of Coromandel” by Patrick Russell, 1796, $3,790 - $5,305 (Rs 2.5 lakh - Rs 3.5 lakh)— The Antiquarian Books Auction will be held on storyltd.com on August 16 & 17. The books can be viewed from August 8 through 17 at Saffronart Gallery, Industry Manor, 3rd Floor, Appasaheb Marathe Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai. Closed on August 15
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