- 363
Dalrymple, Alexander
Estimate
120,000 - 160,000 GBP
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Description
- Dalrymple, Alexander
- A complete set of Dalrymple's maps, charts and views published between 1774 and 1st June 1789 (see footnote). [London: A. Dalrymple, 1774-1789]
- paper
The collection comprises 454 engraved plates (on 443 leaves), many folding, bound into 18 separate geographical parts or "classes" (as listed by Dalrymple, see below), each part in contemporary white waxed paper wrappers, contained in three red morocco-backed boxes, very occasional repairs to maps
"A complete collection of Dalrymple’s Plans of Ports, as it stood in the zenith year of 1789, in the 18 geographical classes in which he arranged them in his catalogue List of Charts, Plans of Ports, &c." (Andrew Cook). The classes, each with a considerable number of plates, are as follows:
1. From England to the Cape of Good-Hope (18 plates); 2. Cape Good-Hope (9); 3. Madagascar (29); 4. East Coast of Africa and Comoro Islands (21); 5. Islands between Madagascar and India (28); 6. Red Sea, and Coast of Arabia (20); 7. Gulph of Persia (21); 8. Scindy to Bombay (21); 9. Malabar Coast (16); 10. Ceylon, Choromandel, and Bengal (26); 11. Chittagong, Arrakan, Ava, Pegu, to Tavay (25); 12. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (14); 13. Strait of Malacca and Malaya (14); 14. Cochin-China, China, Japan, &c. (28); 15. Marianes, Bashees, and Philipinas (21); 16. Magindanao, Borneo, Palawan and Karang Bander (31); 17. Eastern Islands and Papua (44); 18. Sumatra and Java (68).
Class 14 also includes a few plans of north-west coast of America (Nootka Sound etc.), south to San Francisco, Monterey and San Diego.
AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF GREAT RARITY.
"Between 1769 and 1771 Dalrymple published charts and navigational memoirs, chiefly from his 1760s voyages [to the Philippines, Borneo and Sulu], to support his plan for a trading settlement at Balambangan [see lot 357], but he was dismissed in March 1771 from the East India Company's planned expedition after a disagreement over its composition. In the same month he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, with Benjamin Franklin and Nevil Maskelyne among his supporters. He maintained a technical correspondence with the French hydrographer Jean Baptiste Nicolas Denis d'Après de Mannevillette through the 1770s, and began to publish in 1774 a series of Plans of Ports in the East Indies with sailing directions" (Andrew Cook in ODNB).
Cook lists 37 charts, views, plans and diagrams published by Dalrymple prior to 1774, some of which were used in works such as his An Historical Collection of the Several Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean, 1769-1771 (see lots 354 and 355) and A Collection of Charts and Memoirs, 1772 (see lot 352). Those offered here represent a complete collection of the first 16 years of his series of Plans of Ports in the East Indies noted above. They are listed in Dalrymple's List of Classes into which are distributed the Plans of Ports &c., first published in 1786 (see lot 360) and subsequently updated on a number of occasions (a photocopy of one of these later issues listing 454 plates dated 1 June 1789 is provided with this lot).
"Lots 362 and 363 represent the state of Dalrymple’s publications in charts and memoirs at the high point of 1789, as ordered in the two catalogues of that year" (Andrew Cook).
"A complete collection of Dalrymple’s Plans of Ports, as it stood in the zenith year of 1789, in the 18 geographical classes in which he arranged them in his catalogue List of Charts, Plans of Ports, &c." (Andrew Cook). The classes, each with a considerable number of plates, are as follows:
1. From England to the Cape of Good-Hope (18 plates); 2. Cape Good-Hope (9); 3. Madagascar (29); 4. East Coast of Africa and Comoro Islands (21); 5. Islands between Madagascar and India (28); 6. Red Sea, and Coast of Arabia (20); 7. Gulph of Persia (21); 8. Scindy to Bombay (21); 9. Malabar Coast (16); 10. Ceylon, Choromandel, and Bengal (26); 11. Chittagong, Arrakan, Ava, Pegu, to Tavay (25); 12. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (14); 13. Strait of Malacca and Malaya (14); 14. Cochin-China, China, Japan, &c. (28); 15. Marianes, Bashees, and Philipinas (21); 16. Magindanao, Borneo, Palawan and Karang Bander (31); 17. Eastern Islands and Papua (44); 18. Sumatra and Java (68).
Class 14 also includes a few plans of north-west coast of America (Nootka Sound etc.), south to San Francisco, Monterey and San Diego.
AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF GREAT RARITY.
"Between 1769 and 1771 Dalrymple published charts and navigational memoirs, chiefly from his 1760s voyages [to the Philippines, Borneo and Sulu], to support his plan for a trading settlement at Balambangan [see lot 357], but he was dismissed in March 1771 from the East India Company's planned expedition after a disagreement over its composition. In the same month he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, with Benjamin Franklin and Nevil Maskelyne among his supporters. He maintained a technical correspondence with the French hydrographer Jean Baptiste Nicolas Denis d'Après de Mannevillette through the 1770s, and began to publish in 1774 a series of Plans of Ports in the East Indies with sailing directions" (Andrew Cook in ODNB).
Cook lists 37 charts, views, plans and diagrams published by Dalrymple prior to 1774, some of which were used in works such as his An Historical Collection of the Several Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean, 1769-1771 (see lots 354 and 355) and A Collection of Charts and Memoirs, 1772 (see lot 352). Those offered here represent a complete collection of the first 16 years of his series of Plans of Ports in the East Indies noted above. They are listed in Dalrymple's List of Classes into which are distributed the Plans of Ports &c., first published in 1786 (see lot 360) and subsequently updated on a number of occasions (a photocopy of one of these later issues listing 454 plates dated 1 June 1789 is provided with this lot).
"Lots 362 and 363 represent the state of Dalrymple’s publications in charts and memoirs at the high point of 1789, as ordered in the two catalogues of that year" (Andrew Cook).
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."