[India — Original Watercolors] — Lieutenant Colonel George Noble Cave

Folio (26 1/2 x 20 3/4 in.; 673 x 527mm). Albumen print portrait of the artist (14 1/2 x 11 5/16 in.; 368 x 288 mm), manuscript title page, 42 original watercolors (from 2 3/4 x 4 7/8 in.; 70 x 124 mm, to 13 7/8 x 19 15/16 in.; 357 x 508 mm), mounted on album leaves and titled in pencil; one or two closed marginal tears to leaves, some foxing occasionally affecting images, several leaves renewed. Later half green morocco over green pebble-grain cloth, rounded spine with gilt bands and text; edges rubbed with some fraying. 

By descent through the Cave family (dedication inscription to front free endpaper)

Folio (26 1/2 x 20 3/4 in.; 673 x 527mm). Albumen print portrait of the artist (14 1/2 x 11 5/16 in.; 368 x 288 mm), manuscript title page, 42 original watercolors (from 2 3/4 x 4 7/8 in.; 70 x 124 mm, to 13 7/8 x 19 15/16 in.; 357 x 508 mm), mounted on album leaves and titled in pencil; one or two closed marginal tears to leaves, some foxing occasionally affecting images, several leaves renewed. Later half green morocco over green pebble-grain cloth, rounded spine with gilt bands and text; edges rubbed with some fraying.
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An exquisite album of original watercolors of the Himalayas, dedicated by author's son to his niece. The images present here skilfully and strikingly depict various scenes in the Kashmir region, to include the "First View of the Valley of Cashmere", "The Falls of Hurreebul", "The Konsa Nag", "The Lidder River", "On the Sind River", "On the Zejla Pass", and many others. The Kashmir region was one much favored by the British in the 19th century, and the sort of wonder its landscape inspired is expertly captured by Cave, who spent decades in the area. Colonel George Noble Cave was an officer with the Bengal Staff Corp from 1849, the same year that he married his first wife, Matilda Chambers. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel at the end of 1867, around the time he began this series of watercolors. 

The inscription reads: "For my niece May Proctor because the pictures were painted by her grandfather in the presence of her mother in 1867-1869-1870. Failing my niece, the book is to be given to her son Arthur Proctor— GN Cave 'Dulac' 19th April 1934". The author of the inscription is either Gerald or George Cave.