Set of 2 travelogues by Sleeman of Thuggee fame

a) Lieutenant Colonel W H Sleeman, Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official, London: J Hatchard and Son, 1844

(Set of 2 Volumes)
Volume I: xii; 478 pages including one colour chromolithographic frontispiece and 6 colour chromolithographic plates at the end
Volume II: x; 459 pages including 1 chromolithographic frontispiece and 24 colour chromolithographic plates covered with tissue guards. The plates are not bound in systematically but are complete and match the list in Volume 2.

Publisher's fine-ribbed red cloth, blocked in gilt on front with rule border, elaborate tracery pattern enclosing circular medallion with seated figure; similarly in blind on back with circular tracery design in gilt instead of the medallion. Spine lettered in gilt within elaborate vignette architectural design in gilt (each)
9.8 x 7.2 in (24.6 x 18 cm) (each)

A travelogue of North India by the man who suppressed Thuggee and later hastened the annexation of Oudh.

Sleeman, although not a physician, gave the first account of a toxic malady, Lathyrism.

In Volume 1, he draws on his travels and experiences, and in 48 chapters discusses myriad aspects of Indian life, including Hinduism, local festivals and folklore, natural history and disease.

Volume 2 deals with Sleeman's suppression of the Thuggees and Dacoits, moves to end Suttee but also records his interest in Indian traditional life and natural history, being the first discoverer of dinosaur fossils in Asia.

It also examines many issues related to governance, such as land, tax, military discipline and the justice system. The work includes plates of some of the spectacular buildings that he visited.

b) Lieutenant Colonel W H Sleeman, A Journey Through the Kingdom of Oude, In 1849-1850; By Direction of The Hon. The Earl of Dalhousie, Governor-General. With Private Correspondence Relative to The Annexation of Oude to British India, & C., London: Richard Bentley, 1858

(In 2 volumes)
Volume 1: pp. lxxx, 337 + a folding map of the Kingdom of Oude as frontispiece
Volume 2: pp. vi, 424
Hardbound with marble papers (each)
9.75 x 7.75 in (24.3 x 19.3 cm) (each)

The infamous report by the same Sleeman who suppressed [and wrote about] Thuggee in his youth. This report persuaded Dalhousie to annex Oude which was one of the reasons for the outbreak of the Mutiny of 1857.

(Set of two)

NON-EXPORTABLE

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.