A large hand-coloured map showing the course of the Ganges across north-east India from present-day Bangladesh to New Delhi, with the territory of the Bengal Presidency highlighted in pink, and the Indian princely states shown in yellow. The title contained in a cartouche depicting Ganges seated with yak, crocodile and leopard under palm trees, a blessing ceremony in the foreground.

Major James Rennell, FRS, FRSE, FRGS (1742-1830) was an East India Company officer, geographer, and pioneer of oceanography. As Surveyor General of Bengal, he produced the first accurate maps of the region and outlines of the Indian subcontinent. Rennell had earlier been tasked with surveying the river Ganges to find the shortest perennially navigable route to the Hooghly River and Calcutta avoiding the Murshidabad shallows.

Large engraved map on two conjoined sheets, with original outline colour, some light offset. size: 71.5 cm by 106.5 cm, sheet size: 76.5 cm by 115 cm.