Moffatt, James

Folio (558 x 425mm.), 24 aquatint plates by Moffatt, most after his own drawings, 4 after "H.C." (see footnote), all captioned, a number dated, watermarks dated 1798-1807, modern half russia over marbled boards, spine gilt, blue morocco-backed cloth folding box

M. Archer, British Drawings in the India Office Library, I969, II, p.621

good condition
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A FINE AND VERY RARE COLLECTION OF VIEWS IN INDIA, PRINTED IN INDIA. The work is not in Abbey or Tooley and we have only traced one other set ever appearing at auction.

The twenty-four plates are probably made up of three series: a series published in about 1804, a second published in about 1810 and a third group of four plates 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 as follows:

1. View of a Mosque at Chunar
2. View of the large pagoda at Nuddea
3. View of Agra, on the River Jumna
4. Mausoleum erecting at Ghazepore, to the memory of the Marquis Cornwallis
5. View on the banks of the Ganges with representation of the Churruck Poojah, a Hindoo holiday
6. Gate of Sultan Shah Hussein's tomb at Gour
7. 1st; view of the city of Benares
8. 2d, view of the city of Benares
9. West view of the city of Moorshedabad
10. View of the hospital at Berhampore
11. South view of Chinsurah
12. View of Seringapatam
13. View in the fort of Monghyr
14. South view of the new government house, Calcutta
15. Kuddum Russoolat Gour, where they shew the print of their prophet's foot, in a piece of white marble
16. Cutwally gate at Gour,' H.C. delinr. I. Moffat. Sculp. (watermark dated 1805)
17. The small golden mosque at Gour
18. West view of Calcutta
19. South east view of the new government house Calcutta
20. View of the cantonments at Berhampore
21. View of the ancient city gate, Rajemahal
22. Mosque at Peruspore, Gour
23. View of the palace at Benares
24. Cossimundia Ghaut, Benares