NON-EXPORTABLE
TITLE: The Edicts of Asoka
AUTHOR: With an Introduction and Commentary, by Vincent A. Smith
PUBLISHER: Essex house press
PLACE: Broad Campden
YEAR: 1909
NUMBERED: No. 17 of 100 copies on hand-made paper, finished 19 February 1909
NO.OF PAGES: pp. xx, 77 + frontispiece showing the capital of Asoka column at Sarnath
BINDING: Original paper-covered board with cloth strip for the spine. Deckled edges.
SIZE:
Height: 26.5 cm
Width: 19.5 cm
Depth: 1 cm
LIMITED EDITION BOOK PRESENTED BY ANANDA COOMARASWAMY + A LETTER
"Prepared at the request of Dr Ananda K. Coomaraswamy" according to Preface.
Inscribed on the front endpaper: "For Edward Greenly from Ananda K Coomaraswamy, November 1909"
Printed at the Essex House Press in the Norman Chapel at Broad Campden
Sold at the Essex House Press and by Henry Frowde, London
This is an Ex-library copy [Westminster Public Libraries]
+
A handwritten letter dated 24.10.15 on letterhead [The Manor House, Britford, Nr. Salisbury] which reads:
"Dear Sir, I am sending you a bill of my wife's recital of Indian music on Nov. 26 and hope you will kindly exhibit it in the rooms of the society. Yours faithfully. A K Coomaraswamy"
The letter has a rubber stamp of Royal Society of Arts, Adelphi, London, dated 28 Oct. 1915.
Size: 6 x 4.5 inches
Coomaraswamy was a Sri Lankan Tamil philosopher and art historian who introduced Indian art to America and was an early interpreter of Indian culture to the west. In the 1910s he married Alice Richardson, a British woman, who studied Indian music in the Kapurthala court and took on the name Ratan Devi before going to England to present recitals.
CONDITION:
This lot will be sold in "as is" condition.
There may be some minor tears/creases scratches, or holes commensurate with age that may not be visible in the images.
The books on sale in this auction are rare, out-of-print and otherwise collectable, dating from the 19th century onwards. The technology and material for printing and binding books have evolved over the last few centuries. From being the exclusive preserve of Clergy and Kings to an item of everyday application, the availability and use of books have also evolved over time. Books age over time and deterioration in a book's condition depends on many factors, including the original materials used and conditions of usage over time. Books will often show signs of foxing, fading, shelf-ware or dust jacket damage through usage. Prolonged storage may also cause wormhole damage or water stains.
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