book detail

MOFFATT, James (1775-1815)

[An album of twenty four views in India]

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Calcutta: 1804-1810 [watermarked 1798-1807]. Folio. (22 x 17 inches). 24 uncoloured aquatints by Moffat. Expertly bound to style using half 18th-century diced russia over marbled paper-covered boards, the flat spine divided into six compartments by double gilt fillets, lettered in gilt in the second and third compartments, modern morocco-backed cloth box, spine gilt. A fine and very rare album of Moffat's highly important views of India. In its entirety, this album represents the greatest series of aquatint views ever printed in India. We have occasionally been able to offer individual prints by James Moffat, but this is the first album that we have ever encountered: collections such as this are of the greatest rarity. The twenty four plates make up three different series, and were originally assembled in about 1820. All the plates are on laid paper, the majority with watermarks including dates. The three series are probably as follows: a series published in about 1804, a second published in about 1810 and the third group of four plates are from drawings of Gaur by Henry Creighton. Little is known of Moffat. Mildred Archer writes that he 'was a Scotsman living in Calcutta from 1789 to 1815. He appears to have learnt his profession of painting and engraving in India. In 1798 and from 1805 to 1810 he produced views of towns on the Ganges and Hooghly, and in 1808 engravings from Henry Creighton's drawings of Gaur.' The plates are bound and titled as follows: 1.`View of a Mosque at Chunar,' I.Moffat. sculp.1810 (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1807') 2.'View of the large pagoda at Nuddea,' drawn and engraved by I. Moffat (watermarked 'J. Whatman 1804') 3.'View of Agra, on the River Jumna,' I.Moffat, sculpt. (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1807') 4.'Mausoleum erecting at Ghazepore, to the memory of the Marquis Cornwallis.' Engraved by I. Moffat, Calcutta (watermarked 'S. Wise & Patch 1805') 5.'View on the banks of the Ganges with representation of the Churruck Poojah, a Hindoo holiday,' I. Moffat. Del. et sculp. (watermarked 'Edmeades & Pine') 6.'Gate of Sultan Shah Hussein's tomb at Gour,' H.C. delin I. Moffat. sculp (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1805') 7.'1st; view of the city of Benares,' drawn and Engraved by J. Moffat. Calcutta 1804, (14 ½ x 20 ¼ inches) 8.'2d, view of the city of Benares,' Drawn and Engraved by J. Moffat 1804, (14 ½ x 20 ¼ inches) 9.'West view of the city of Moorshedabad,' J. Moffat del: et Sculp, (14 ¾ x 20 ¼ inches) 10.'View of the hospital at Berhampore,' Drawn and Engraved by Jas. Moffat at Calcutta 1805 (Watermarked 'J. Whatman 1801') 11.'South view of Chinsurah,' J. Moffat del. Et Sculp. Calcutta 1803 (watermarked 'J.Larking') 12.'View of Seringapatam,' J. Moffat Sculp. (watermarked 'Budgen 1803) 13.'View in the fort of Monghyr,' Drawn and Engraved by James Moffat, Calcutta 1805 (watermarked 'J. Whatman 1801') 14.'South view of the new government house, Calcutta,' Drawn & Engraved in Aquatinta, by James Moffat, Calcutta 1803' (watermarked 'I Taylor 1798') 15.Kuddum Russoolat Gour, where they shew the print of their prophet's foot, in a piece of white marble,' H.C. delinr. I. Moffat sculp. 16.'Cutwally gate at Gour,' H.C. delinr. I. Moffat. Sculp. (watermark dated 1805) 17.'The small golden mosque at Gour,' H.C. delin I. Moffat. Sculp (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1806') 18.'West view of Calcutta,' Drawn and Engraved by J. Moffat. Calcutta 1805 (watermarked 'J. Whatman 1801') 19.'South east view of the new government house Calcutta,' Delineated and Engraved in Aquatinta By James Moffat, at Calcutta 1st February 1803 (watermarked 'I Taylor 1798') 20.'View of the cantonments at Berhampore,' J. Moffat del. And sculp. 1806 (watermarked 'J. Whatman 1804') 21.'View of the ancient city gate, Rajemahal,' J. Moffat Del. Et Sculp. 1806 ) (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1805') 22.'Mosque at Peruspore, Gour,' H.C. delin J. Moffat Sculp Calcutta (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1805') 23.'View of the palace at Benares,' Drawn and Engraved by J. Moffat. Calcutta 1805 (watermarked 'J. Whatman 1801') 24.'Cossimundia Ghaut, Benares,' J. Moffat del. et sculp. (watermarked 'S.Wise & Patch 1805') M. Archer British Drawings in the India Office Library, I969, II, p.621

• USD 48,000.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 21937

• bookseller: Donald A. Heald Rare Books (USA)