Kirkpatrick's work on Nepal was the first to be written in English and the only reference work on the country for many years. Originally written for the Government and Court of Directors of the East India Company, Col. Kirkpatrick was the first Englishman to visit the Kathmandu Valley. He was a staff officer sent by Lord Cornwallis to mediate in the dispute between Tibet and Nepal in 1793. 'No Englishman had hitherto passed beyond the range of lofty mountains which separates the secluded valley of Nepaul from the North-Eastern parts of Bengal'. The hand-coloured plate shows the image of 'Khalidge', a type of Pheasant.

First edition. 4to, xix, 386, [ii] (index), pp, [iv] (ads) pp., woodcut vignette on title-page, large engraved folding map (small tear repaired),14 engraved plates including one hand-coloured plate of a bird, contemporary calf gilt, neatly rebacked, red morocco label, offsetting from plates to text, corners worn, old stamp to title verso, a very good copy.

Marshall 381; Yakushi K214a.