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an old book with a gold eagle on the front and a black book with a gold eagle on the backan old book with a picture of a man holding a babyan old book with a drawing of a hut in the middle of itan open book with a map of india on the coveran open book with a picture of a mountain and trees on itan open book with a map of a town and a map of a townan open book with a drawing of a man on a horse and a man on a horse on a horse
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Estimate €10,000 - €14,000
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Description
Asia – India Friedrich Wilhelm Waldemar, Prince of Prussia In commemoration of Prince Waldemar of Prussia’s journey to India in the years 1844–1846. 4 parts in 2 volumes. With a tinted lithographic portrait as a frontispiece, 2 illustrated lithographic title pages and 104 lithographic plates (including 1 double-page plate), all tinted, as well as 6 engraved maps with hand-coloured borders. Berlin, Decker, 1853. 6 leaves, 388 pp. Imperial folio (59 x 45 cm). Modern half-leather binding utilising the original cloth coverings, these featuring decorative blind-embossed wickerwork frames and gold-embossed title labels bearing the Prussian eagle on the recto, as well as a depiction featuring the names of the battles of Moodkee (Mudki), Ferozeshah and Sabraon, which surround Waldemar’s monogram, on the reverse, and the original endpapers (the cover cloths have been restored, with repairs to the edges and small missing areas, and varnished with clear lacquer). A rare, magnificent edition of Prince Waldemar of Prussia’s richly illustrated travelogue. – Lipperheide Ld 38. – Aschoff 1443. – Yakushi W 17a. - Produced posthumously at the King’s expense, printed in only a small run and never released for sale. With a foreword by A. von Humboldt (Löwenberg 388), text revised by H. Mahlmann and the Prince’s travelling companion, Count von Oriola. - The plates were traced and engraved on stone by F. K. Bellermann, Tempeltei, Haun and Klaus, based on the Prince’s original sketches. Featuring views of Aden, Athens, Benares, Kandy, Delhi, Cairo, Kathmandu, Corfu, Lahore, Madras, Patna, Trieste and others, as well as numerous landscapes from the Himalayas (including a double-page panorama), as well as scenes of indigenous peoples and hunting. Part 4 features scenes from the First Sikh War. - In 1844, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Waldemar of Prussia (1817–49) accompanied the former Captain of the General Staff, Eduard Count von Oriola, and others on a journey through Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. There, the Prince served as an observer during the First Sikh War and witnessed the battles of Mudki (18 December 1845), Ferozeshah (21 and 22 December 1845) and Sabraon (10 February 1846); see the gold embossing on the back covers. During the Battle of Ferozeshah, his travelling companion and childhood friend, Dr Werner Hoffmeister, lost his life. Hoffmeister’s letters home and his ‘Memoirs of the Author’ are the most important biographical sources for the life and travels of Prince Waldemar. This work caused a sensation in Germany with its high-quality illustrations and its accounts of little-visited places. – Text collation (as per Lipperheide): Vol. 1: 3 leaves (frontispiece, lith. title, printed title), V (1) pp., 1 leaf (title, Part 1), 33 (1) pp., 60 leaves, 30 plates, numbered I–XXX, and 45 (1) text leaves each pp., 33 plates, numbered I–XXXIII, and per text leaf, of which 1 is double-sided: 18 pp. (Ceylon). Vol. 2: 3 leaves (lith. title, printed title, title of Part 2) 22 pp., 26 plates, nos. I–XXVI, and text leaves as above; 30 pp., 22 pp., 15 plates, nos. I–XV, and text leaves as above – in places slightly browned and with foxing. Volume 1 has water stains at the beginning and end in the foot margin and outer margin respectively; occasionally numerous tiny black soot speckles in the margins, and sporadically also within the text block; some text leaves have small tears at the edges. Some of the silk endpapers have creases. - Overall, a very impressive set of what is arguably one of the most lavish editions on India ever produced. Asia. - India. - Rare deluxe edition of Prince Waldemar of Prussia’s travelogue on Sri Lanka, India and Nepal, profusely illustrated with a tinted lithographic portrait as a frontispiece, 2 illustrated lithographic title pages and 104 (including 1 double-page) lithographic plates, all tinted, as well as 6 engraved maps, coloured in outline. Luxuriously bound in modern half-leather using the original cloth boards, these feature decorative blind-embossed frames and gilt cover titles with the Prussian eagle on the front and a depiction featuring the names of the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah and Sabraon surrounding Waldemar’s monogram on the reverse, as well as the original endpapers (the covers have been restored, with skilful repair to the edges and small missing areas, and coated with clear varnish). – For references, see above. - Published posthumously at the king’s expense, printed in a small edition only and not available in the book trade. With a foreword by A. v. Humboldt (Löwenberg 388), text revised by H. Mahlmann and the prince’s travelling companion Count v. Oriola. - The plates were drawn and engraved by F. K. Bellermann, Tempeltei, Haun and Klaus based on the prince’s original sketches. Featuring views of Aden, Athens, Benares, Kandy, Delhi, Cairo, Kathmandu, Corfu, Lahore, Madras, Patna, Trieste and other locations, numerous landscapes from the Himalayas (including a double-page lithographic plate depicting a panorama), as well as scenes of indigenous people and hunting. Part 4 features scenes from the First Anglo-Sikh War. - In 1844, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Waldemar of Prussia (1817–49) accompanied the former captain of the General Staff, Eduard Graf von Oriola, amongst others, on a journey through Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. There, the prince served as an observer during the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46) and witnessed the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah and Sabraon; see the gold-embossed coat of arms-like depiction on the back covers. During the Battle of Ferozeshah, his travelling companion and childhood friend, Dr Werner Hoffmeister, was killed. Hoffmeister’s letters home and his ‘Memoirs of the Author’ are the most important biographical sources for the life and travels of Prince Waldemar. The work caused a sensation in Germany with its high-quality illustrations and accounts of little-visited places. – Text collation (as in Lipperheide), see above. – Somewhat browned and foxed in places. Volume 1 has water stains at the beginning and end along the spine and outer margin; there are occasional numerous tiny black soot spots in the margins, a few of which are also in the printed area; some text pages have small marginal tears. Some of the silk shirts are creased. Overall, a very fine copy of what is probably the most luxurious publishing project ever undertaken on India.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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