Select Views in Mysore, The Country of Tippoo Sultan; from Drawings Taken on the Spot by Mr. Home; with Historical Descriptions. [WIDE MARGINED COPY IN CONTEMPORARY PLAIN BOARDS WITH GILT LETTERED LABEL ON SPINE]

London: Mr. Bowyer, Historic Gallery, Letter-Press by T. Bensley, from Figgins's types, 1794. First edition. Hardcover. fair to very good. Folio. vii, (1 leaf) 48pp. (13 leaves of Urdu script), 29 plates, 4 folding maps, one in color. Original green textured paper-covered boards with gilt lettering on red label of spine. Urdu frontispiece and twelve additional plates with Urdu scripture starting each section of the publication. Wide margin copy in original paper boards. Illustrated with 29 copperplate engravings from drawings by Robert Home, a portrait painter by trade, also known for his historic scenes and landscapes during his travels. Includes four folding maps: one of Ootradroog taken by the English Army, a color map of the Carnatic and Mysore, a plan of the position of the confederate Armies, under the direction of Earl Cornwallis before Seringapatam, and a plan of Bangalore (with the Attacks) taken by the English Army. Cox calls for five maps though it is often only bound with four.

A collection of fine views, providing an excellent visual supplement to Major Dirom's book on the war in Mysore. Includes several views in Bangalore, including a view of the English cemetery there and a list of 7 monuments erected to British soldiers who fell during the taking of Bangalore. there are views of Savendroog, Ootradroog, Oliahdroog, Seringapatam and others. The letterpress gives brief descriptions of the military actions taking place at the various sites depicted. Home was granted permission to follow Lord Cornwallis' army as official artist during the Third Anglo-Mysore War as it expanded to Bangalore. He painted some of his well-known paintings while in South India. In 1792 he met the artists Thomas and William Daniell who were supportive of his work as landscape artist. His "Select Views in Mysore..." were published in London and Madras in 1794. Home moved to Calcutta in 1795, where he had a flourishing portrait trade, and was one of the few British artists to spend the greater part of his life in India. See Archer and Lightbown, India Observed: India as Viewed by British Artists 1760-1860, page 41. Text in English with Urdu plates. Binding with wear along edges, bumps at corners, small chips, some staining and rubbing. Spine with larger chips and tears of front joint at tail. Edges uncut. Starting lightly after front free endpaper and the plate "South East View of Oliahdroog." Some foxing on Urdu plates and water staining of text plates towards rear. Engravings in very good condition.