A History of the Sikhs, From the Origin of the Nation to the Battles of the Sutlej.
London. John Murray. 1849. First Edition. Stock ID #222747 First edition. Rare. When referring to this item please quote stockid 222747.
Frontispiece map and one other folding map, (both hand-coloured in outline), folding table, xxxvi + 425 + [3] pp; early half calf, marbled boards, 21.5 x 14 cms, marbled endpapers, spine blind-stamped in compartments and gilt-ruled, red title label, folding map with a sealed 4cm fold split at the head of one fold, scant spotting and age-toning, boards a trifle rubbed and scuffed, neat inked previous owner's name to the front free endpaper (and the pencilled name and address of bookseller R. D. Steedman), paper abrasion to the verso of the front free endpaper, a very good copy.
Handsome armorial bookplate 'Erimus' to the front pastedown.
Joseph Davey Cunningham (1812-1851) wrote this landmark English work on the history of the Sikhs whilst serving as a Captain in the Bengal Engineers and the Political Agent to Bhopal. He had gathered extensive first-hand knowledge during eight years (1837–1845) of service as a political assistant on the Sikh frontier. The work gained notoriety for Cunningham's criticism of Sir Henry Hardinge's management of the Anglo-Sikh War. The subsequent disgrace led to his professional ruin and is reported to have hastened his early death (at the age of 38). A second edition issued posthumously by the author's brother, Peter Cunningham (1816–1869, a prominent British writer and critic, softened its criticism of British policy.
Price: $6,250.00 AU