The costumes of the various tribes,
portraits of ladies of rank, celebrated princes and chiefs, views of the principal fortresses and cities, and interior of the cities and temples of Afghaunistaun. From original drawings.
London, Hering, 1848
Characteristic features of Rattray's works are his detailed and vivid depictions of the people living in Afghanistan. In both his works and commentary, he takes great care in depicting clothing. Rattray's work also provides us with a wide range of information that is of historical and ethno-historical interest, such as the forms of worship at tombs and mosques, and the imperial rituals of the Dorranis. Even though Rattray was a soldier, he had a good command of Persian and spoke directly with local people; more than anything, he had a tireless interest in any information related to Afghanistan.' (Rendering Afghanistan, Tokyo University).
First edition; folio (61 x 43.5 cm), title printed in red and black, additional hand-coloured lithograph title page, dedication leaf, 29 finely hand-coloured lithographs on 25 leaves by Robert Carrick and others after Rattray, many heightened with gum arabic, each lithograph with descriptive letterpress, lithograph title spotted, occasional spotting elsewhere, fore-margin text leaf Interior of Candahar repaired, occasional short tears not affecting images, list of subscribers, contemporary red half morocco, red morocco title label to upper cover, a little rubbed and worn, a good copy.
Abbey Travel 513; Bobins 267; Colas 2489; Lipperheide 1497.
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