Set of 7 books on Sikhs, mostly on their art

a) F. S. Aijazuddin, Sikh Portraits by European Artists, London: Sotheby Parke Burnett, 1979

pp. 160 + 17 colour plates and with bibliography and index; original maroon cloth with dustjacket
10 x 7.5 in (25 x 18.7 cm)

Foreword by M. S. Randhawa. The collection of Sikh portraits formerly belonging to Princess Bamba Sutherland (granddaughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) provides a unique pictorial chronicle of the Sikh dynasty founded by the legendary 'Lion of the Punjab'. Drawing on material from these other sources, author describes the life and times of Ranjit Singh, his son Sher Singh, Rani Jindan and Duleep Singh.

The book covers artists who painted Sikhs - August Schoefft (who visited Lahore in 1841), Queen Victoria's court painter Winterhalter, George Beechey, Emily Eden, G. T. Vigne and Capt. Goldingham.

b) W. H. McLeod, Popular Sikh Art, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1991

pp. xi, 139 with bibliography, glossary and index and 41 colour plates [including frontispiece] of popular or bazaar prints showing Sikh gurus, holy places and episodes from Sikh history printed on fine glazed paper pasted with glue, 1 on each page. Plus 8 black and white plates showing 14 images of 19th-century woodcut prints of Sikh religious and historical themes; very fine ex-library hardback copy with fine dustjacket.
10 x 7.5 in (25 x 18.7 cm)

c) Mulk Raj Anand, Maharaja Ranjit Singh as Patron of The Arts, Bombay: Marg Publications, 1981

pp. 138 + a very large folding ‘panorama’ of portraits measuring 51 x 13 inches, full of colour and black and white illustrations on paintings, architecture, maps, plans and manuscripts including 12 scholarly essays; yellow cloth hardback with dustjacket
13 x 10 in (32.5 x 25 cm)

d) Jean Marie-Lafont, The French and Lahore [Les Francais et Lahore], printed and published in Lahore in 2007

pp. 168 with bibliography and index, also 203 illustrations in colour based on old engravings, maps, paintings and photographs, printed on fine glazed paper; hardback with a fine dustjacket
9 x 11.4 in (22.5 x 28.5 cm)

Most of the book relates to the Sikh period, with emphasis on the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, his courtiers and the French at his court.

e) Seema Bharadia, The Arts of The Sikh Kingdoms: The Canadian Collections, Canada: Royal Ontario Museum, 2000

61pp. including black and white and color photographs and illustrations, maps, references; softbound
9.5 x 8.6 in (23.8 x 21.5 cm)

The book illustrates the paintings and works of art related to Sikhs in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum. This is a catalogue published in conjunction with the exhibition from May 22 to August 20, 2000.
Ex-library copy

f) Jean de La Fontaine and Imam Bakhsh Lahori, Le Songe d’un Habitant du Mogol: et autres fables, illustrees par Imam Bakhsh Lahori, Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1989

pp. 191; hardbound with slipcase
11 x 8.6 in (27.5 x 21.5 cm)

A French collector in the 1820s had the 'Fables' of poet Jean de La Fontaine illustrated by various artists. His friend GENERAL JEAN-FRANCOIS ALLARD from the army of Ranjit Singh was leaving for Punjab when the collector asked him to have the Fables illustrated by a Punjab artist. The artist Allard chose was IMAM BAKHSH LAHORI who had painted many Sikh paintings as well.

This book reproduces all the illustrations made by IMAM BAKHSH LAHORI for the book and are reproduced in colour together with the text of the Fables in French as well as English translation.

g) Major H. M. L. Lawrence, Adventures of An Officer in The Service of Runjeet Singh, Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1975

pp. xviii, 287 + vii, 271 [pp. 583 in total] with two frontispiece portraits and index; hardback with dustjacket covered in mylar
8.2 x 5.4 in (20.7 x 13.5 cm)

Originally published in 1845 in 2 volumes, this is Oxford University Press Karachi reprint of 1975. The text is a reproduction of the original volumes, not the re-set text. Ex-library copy.

This is a novel based on facts, written by Henry Lawrence of the Indian Mutiny fame in his youth when he was for many years involved with Punjab of Ranjit Singh’s time. While it narrates the imaginary adventures of an officer named Colonel Belassis, everything is based on facts as seen and observed by Henry Lawrence.

Condition: Ex-library copy but the title pages are clean. Stamps etc. on free front endpaper, a sticker on spine and a number on the back of the title page. Covered in mylar.

(Set of seven)

This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of each book.