Auction house Saffronart’s upcoming auction, titled Passages to India: A Journey Through Rare Books, Prints, Maps, Photographs, and Letters, promises an immersive exploration of India’s colonial past and its vibrant struggle for independence. The 93 meticulously curated eclectic lots feature rare books and prints documenting religious practices, social customs, and architectural marvels to historic maps revealing the evolution of landscapes and military strategies.
The auction is scheduled for online bidding on July 24 and 25, 2024, with previews available at Saffronart’s Mumbai gallery from July 19 and 25.
The line-up features a range of prints documenting 18th- and 19th-century India, offering insights into its cultural and historical richness. Highlights include François Balthazar Solvyns’ Les Hindous: Ou Description de Leurs Moeurs, Coutumes et Ceremonies, which presents vivid etchings of Indian society in the 1790s. Thomas and William Daniell’s Oriental Scenery One Hundred and Fifty Views of the Architecture, Antiquities and Landscape Scenery of Hindoostan is renowned for its hand-colored aquatints of Mughal monuments and landscapes. James Baille Fraser’s collection of early 19th-century Calcutta prints capture iconic views of the city’s landmarks. These prints collectively contribute to a comprehensive record of India’s diverse heritage and architectural marvels.
The auction also includes a diverse collection of books, and manuscripts, showcasing significant moments in Indian history and culture. Highlighted are six hand-colored aquatints by J. Harris depicting scenes from the First Anglo-Sikh War, based on Henry Martens’ watercolors, offering a vivid portrayal of the fierce battles between 1845 and 1848.
Another standout is Louis Henri de Rudder’s lithograph Chir Singh [Sher Singh] Maharaja des Siks, Roi de Panjab Avec sa Suite/ Lahore Avril 1842 capturing Sher Singh Maharaja of Punjab and his retinue during a hunting expedition in 1842.
Also featured are Thomas Daniell’s 1795 depiction of the Chalees Satoon in Allahabad Fort, Henry Merke’s 1807 view of Government House in Madras, and Dickinson & Co.’s circa 1845 Calcutta from the Water Gate of Fort William, each offering unique perspectives on India’s architectural and urban landscapes.
Rare first-edition books include Charles Wilkins’ translation of the Bhagavad Gita, the first edition of India’s Constitution from 1950, and Sir John Malcolm’s seminal work on Sikhism.
Additionally, notable items include Mahatma Gandhi’s signed letters, Abanindranath Tagore’s illustrated album on Bengali script, and Thomas Holbein Hendley’s comprehensive survey of Indian jewelry, enriching the auction with cultural and historical significance.
Minal Vazirani, Saffronart’s President and Co-Founder, said, “Saffronart’s upcoming auction Passages to India: A Journey Through Rare Books, Prints, Maps, Photographs, and Letters is an incredible opportunity for experts and enthusiasts of Indian antiquarian culture to acquire rare collectibles that offer a rich insight into the region’s diverse traditions and history. Each lot is a notable documentation of the minute details of Indian history, which might otherwise have been lost to the passage of time. The market for these collectibles has grown tremendously in the last decade and beyond their aesthetic and intellectual significance, these objects also hold value.”
From the Imperial Durbars artifacts, revealing regal pomp and ceremony, to insightful travelogues detailing journeys across India’s diverse terrains, the auction’s breadth reflects a deep reverence for India’s multifaceted heritage, making it a must-attend event for scholars, collectors, and history enthusiasts alike.
