Joseph Davey Cunningham, A History of the Sikhs from the Origin of the Nation to the Battles of the Sutlej Oxford, 1918 pp. 429, new and revised edition (ed. H. L. O. Garrett), first published in 1849, with two maps (one folding), folding genealogical table of the Sikh Gurus, blue cloth 190 x 130 mm. Footnotes: J. D. Cunningham (1812-51) was, as the title page has it, 'Lieutenant of Engineers, and Captain in the Army of India'. He went to India in 1834 as chief engineer of the Bengal Presidency. In 1837 he was appointed assistant to Colonel Claude Wade, the political agent for the Sikhs, and held various positions in the Punjab until 1845. When the first Anglo-Sikh War began in December of that year he was attached to the staff of Sir Charles Napier and then to that of Sir Hugh Gough, Commander-in-chief in India. He was present at the battles of Buddawal (22 January 1846) and Aliwal (28 January 1846). At Sobraon (10 February 1846), he served as an additional aide-de-camp to the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge. Later he was political agent to the state of Bhopal from 1846 to 1850. The first edition of A History of the Sikhs contained criticism of Hardinge's actions in the conduct of the Anglo-Sikh War, and this led to Cunningham's dismissal from the political service. The second edition of the book was published in 1853 after Cunningham's death at the age of 38 (which was supposed to have been partially caused by this disgrace). The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography remarks: 'such a valuable book', in which the author's 'main endeavour was to give Sikhism its place in the general history of humanity, by showing its connection with the different creeds of India... [and] to give some account of the connection of the English with the Sikhs... [It has] been remarked by some public critics and private friends, that the Author leans unduly towards the Sikh...' (Preface). Lot to be sold without reserve. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing