RAFFLES, Thomas Stanford. The History of Java. London, 1817.

'In terms of the pictorial depiction of Javanese costume and topography, the importance of The History of Java can hardly be exaggerated. By a happy coincidence the British interregnum in Indonesia, which focused wider outside interest on this remote corner of Asia, threw up one of the most energetic British orientalists at a time when the English colour plate book, illustrated by the medium of aquatint, was enjoying its greatest vogue. The marriage of a scientifically original text with beautiful illustrations by an accomplished aquatint engraver resulted in a book about Indonesia of outstanding quality; indeed a masterpiece.' (Bastin & Brommer).

Though unsigned, the 10 hand-coloured aquatints depicting Javanese life and costume and the Papuan boy who accompanied Raffles to England in 1816 are by William Daniell, who was also responsible for many of the designs and drawings used in the book. Seven of the plates were engraved from oil paintings by Daniell, which are now in the British Museum.  Due to the fragile nature of the plates, this first edition was limited to 900 copies (650 copies only printed on plain paper, with a further 250 copies printed in royal 4to). It quickly sold out.

First edition, 2 volumes, 4to., 64 etched or aquatint plates, of which one folding and 10 hand-coloured aquatint costume plates by William Daniell, watermarked 1816, 6 engraved vignettes, 2 large folding engraved maps (1 with repair to verso, 1 hand-coloured in outline), nineteenth century half calf, black morocco lettering piece, neat repairs to extremities, occasional light spotting to maps and engravings, a very good copy.

https://shapero.com/products/108182.

Price

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number