The 1917 issue of this handbook issued originally in 1912 to prepare British soldiers for deployment in India. Chapters cover the geography, history, culture, religion, languages, government, climate, and with several devoted to the British and Indian armies and fighting classes. The plates depict the military uniforms of the Baluchis, Pathans, Madrasi Sepoys, Tamils, Punjabis, Sikhs, Gurkhas, and Rajputs.

The 1917 issue appears expanded, as it has 130 pages compared to the 1912 and 1913 issues which have 119 pages.

This issue is only in 15 libraries worldwide, and only in three UK libraries (Manchester, Oxford Brookes, East Anglia), and not in BL (which only has the 1912 and 1913 issues).

24 mo (13 x 11 cm); 7 plates at end, folding map in pocket at rear; publisher's brown paper wrappers, small mark to upper wrapper otherwise fine condition; 130 pp, 23 pages ads.