EDGAR (JOHN WARE) Report On a Visit to Sikhim and the Thibetan Frontier in... 1873, FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, 18 mounted albumen photographs (2 full-page and 16 smaller photographs) with printed captions, ruled in red throughout, light toning, tissue guards loose but preserved, publisher's pebble-grained russett cloth, bevelled edges, rebacked, very faded and soiled [Yakushi E17], 8vo, Calcutta, Bengal Secretariat Press, 1874 Footnotes: VERY RARE REPORT ILLUSTRATED WITH ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS. We have traced only one copy of this first issue at auction (with three of the second issue, which had the photographs recaptioned and incorporated into the text). John Ware Edgar (1839-1902) served as Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling, undertaking the journey recorded here in late 1873 with the aim of exploring the possibilities for opening direct trade between British India and Tibet via Sikkim. Thwarted by the Tibetan authorities at the frontier, he was unable to cross into Tibet, but his report, published by the Bengal government the following year, provided one of the earliest detailed accounts of the region and its trade routes, and fed directly into the broader British strategic interest in Tibet that would culminate in the Younghusband Mission of 1903-04. 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