The Costume and Customs of Modern India

Sir Charles D’Oyly and Captain Thomas Williamson, The Costumes and Customs of Modern India; from a Collection of Drawings by Charles D’Oyly (sic). With a Preface and Copious Descriptions by Captain Thomas Williamson, London: Edward Orme, [circa. 1824]

xxiii; 140 pages including 20 fine colour aquatint plates with tissue guards, each accompanied by descriptive letterpress (mostly on two leaves); half leather bound with marbled boards and gilt text at the spine
11.4 x 9.2 x 1 in (29 x 23.6 x 2.5 cm)

LIST OF PLATES
1. A European gentleman with his Moonshee, or native professor of languages / 2. A gentleman in his private office, attended by his Duftoree, or native office keeper / 3. A gentleman in a public office, attended by his crannies, or native clerks / 4. A gentleman dressing, attended by his head bearer, and other servants / 5. A gentleman attended by his Hajaum, or native barber / 6. A gentleman delivering a letter to a Soontah Burdar, or Silver Batonbearer / 7. A gentleman's Kedmutgars, or table servants, bringing in dinner / 8. An English family at table, under a Punkah, or fan, kept in motion by a Khelassy / 9. A gentleman with his Sircar, or money servant / 10. A gentleman with his Hookah Burdar, or pipe bearer / 11. A Saumpareeah, or snake catcher, exhibiting snakes before Europeans / 12. Marquis Wellesley's dandy, or boatman, in his livery / 13. An European lady giving instructions to her Durzee, or native tailor / 14. A dancing woman of Bengal, exhibiting before an European family / 15. A dancing woman, of Lueknow, exhibiting before an European family / 16. An European lady attended by a servant, using a hand punkah, or fan / 17. An European lady and her family, attended by an Ayah, or nurse / 18. Kaut Pootlies, or puppets, exhibited by native jugglers, for the amusement of European children / 19. A native gentleman, smoking a Goorgoory, or hookah, in his private apartments, attended by his dancing girls / 20. Marquis Wellesley & his suite, at the Nabob of Oude's breakfast table, viewing an elephant fight.

20 attractive hand-colored aquatints presenting a fascinating view of British life in the Raj when England ruled India. Captain Thomas Williamson was a British officer who served in the British regiment in Bengal for two decades and created sketches of his time in India. He was also author of the book Oriental Field Sports. He served in Bengal and was an accomplished amateur artist.

Provenance: Armorial bookplate from the library of Meredith Howland a New York lawyer and book collector.

Reference: J R Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, 435; Colas 887

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