Lot 771A email save

Cunningham (A) The Stupa of Bharhut

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first edition, 57 plates, including 115 mounted Woodburytypes, some foxing, mainly to plates, endpapers oxidised, presented to Warrington Museum by the Secretary of State for India with label on front paste-down, original gilt-tooled green cloth, t.e.g., bordered with gilt indian decorative motifs encompassing an emblematic central gilt device on upper cover, design replicated with blind-tooling on lower cover, spine gilt, spine skilfully repaired, corners a little rubbed but overall in very good condition, small shelf numbers to foot of spine, folio, 1879.

***Rare. We can trace only two copies at auction in the last 30 years. Sir Alexander Cunningham (1814-1893), a british archaeologist and army engineer, spent 28 years in the service of the British Government of India and became the first Archaeological Surveyor to the Government of India (1861-1865). Whilst in India he developed his lifelong enthusiasm for Indian archaeology and antiquity. Cunningham visited the Stûpa of Bharhut in 1873 on his way to Nagpur and was amazed to find a site of such historical significance. The Stûpa of Bharhut was a Buddist Monument built around 150bc, during the period of the Sunga kings. A richly carved stone railing was also built on this site. The railing was carved with lotus designs, pictures of deer, peacocks and elephants, images of Lakshmi and scenes of everyday life. All images and scenes relating to Buddha.A detailed study of Buddhist literature and excavation of the site lead to the publication of this volume, a wonderful and richly illustrated record of Cunningham's excavation..

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