Forbes' Oriental Memoirs is best known for its fine natural history plates after drawings by Sir William Hooker. Forbes went to India as a writer to the East India Company. In 1775 as a private secretary to Colonel Keating, he accompanied the expedition sent to assist Regoba, who was regarded by the Bombay authorities as the rightful Peshwar of the Mahrattas. Forbes later became Collector and Resident at Dubhuy. Under the Treaty of 1782 this district and other conquests were ceded to the Mahrattas, and in 1784 Forbes left India. He had sketches and notes on the fauna, flora, manners, religions and archaeology of India which formed the basis for this book.

First edition. 4 volumes, 4to (31.4 x 25.8 cm.) half-titles, engraved frontispiece, 93 engraved or lithographed plates, 29 hand-coloured, plate list and errata leaf at end of volume 4, twentieth-century brown half morocco over cloth boards, top edge gilt, others uncut, bookseller's label of A. J. Combridge, Bombay, uncoloured plates somewhat spotted as usual, couple of short marginal tears not touching text or illustrations, a very good set.

Abbey, Travel 436; Anker 148; Fine Bird Books 75; Nissen ZBI 1409; Sitwell 96; Wood 345.