Elphinstone, The Hon. Mountstuart.

Estimate

1,500 - 2,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

An account of the kingdom of Cabul, and its dependencies in Persia, Tartary and India; comparing a view of the Afghan nation and a history of the Dooraunee monarchy. London: for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1815

first edition, 4to (286 x 209mm.), 2 engraved maps hand-coloured in outline (one large folding), 13 hand-coloured aquatint plates, one plain aquatint plate, errata leaf, contemporary calf, a couple of closed tears and light spotting to folding map, light spotting to a few leaves (including plain plate), rebacked and repaired

Provenance

Sir Evelyn Mountstuart Grant Duff, K.C.M.G. (1863-1926), Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Berne 1913-1916, signature on front endpaper dated "Copenhagen June 1898"; Sir Clive Milnes-Coates (1879-1971) of Helperby Hall in Yorkshire, signature on front endpaper and label on pastedown

Literature

Abbey, Travel 504; Colas 960; Lipperheide 1483; Tooley (1954) 209

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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."

Catalogue Note

an important historical work on afghanistan. Mountstuart Elphinstone (1779-1859) was a dashing diplomat who, in 1808, was despatched from Delhi and, equipped with Arrian's account of Alexander the Great and a rag-bag outfit of men, camels and elephants, instructed to forge an alliance with the Afghan tribesmen. Aided by a quick wit, fluency in Hindi and Persian and bravery bordering on insanity, he fared well in his negotiations with the awe-inspiring bejewelled figure of the Afghan king. Elphinstone's book remains a perceptive account of Afghan tribalism and habits. His warnings about the inadvisability of challenging the frenzied might of the tribes has been periodically ignored and it was a tragic irony that it was a distant relation, William Elphinstone, who was the commander-of-chief of the 1842 expedition that ended in the calamitous massacre of 16,000.