RARE FINDS HINDOOSTAN REVISITED An exhibition and sale of Original Prints, Old Maps and Antiquarian Books CURATED BY DILNAVAZ MEHTA AT THE CYMROZA ART GALLERY ON VIEW FROM 12th DECEMBER 2012 TO 18th DECEMBER 2012

BOMBAY ON THE MALABAR COAST – showing the fort and the factory of the East India Company, dated c1760

The Rare Finds – Hindoostan Revisited Exhibition will be showcasing old maps, lithographs, etchings, aquatints, engravings and books which offer a comprehensive textual and visual record of the history, geography, topography, ethnology and religious and social activities of India from the sixteenth century to the early twentieth century.

The seventh edition of the well visited and eagerly awaited exhibition which is a marked event in the social and art calendars of Bombay will be held at the Cymroza Art Gallery.

The old maps, prints and books which will be on display at the exhibition will appeal to the discerning art aficianado, the interested history enthusiast and the collector as well. The works present a fascinating visual and textual spectacle of Hindoostan documented in the most artistic and picturesque manner since the enquiry into the uncovering of the enigma called India from the earliest times has been more than a cultural and historical exercise.

Many of the early visiting and resident European scholars, artists, merchants and The East India Company employees found the enquiry into the height of the Himalayas and the view of the Himalayas as intriguing as the mystery of the antiquity of Sanskrit. Their enthusiastic and consistent efforts undertaken to unravel the mysteries as they were then of India’s religions, laws, customs and literature gave impetus to the establishment of societies like the Asiatic Society to enquire and document all matters associated with India.

Added to this was the prevalent trend of men and women of learning and culture for whom it was incumbent to take a lively interest in both the sciences and arts. As a result of which visual and textual documentation of flora and fauna, native Indians and their religious and social customs are found to be in equal number to important events, historical and unusual monuments, topography, religious studies and geographical studies in the books, maps and prints which were published during that time.

The European authors, travelers, company servants, artists contributed to this process of the discovery and documentation of India or Hindoostan as it was then known.

The works of these authors, travelers, writers, company servants and artists continue to exist in today’s times in the form of the old maps, lithographs, etchings, aquatints, engravings and antiquarian books.

As these works are not easily available or on view, moreover as a large amount of the populace is not even aware of their existence and importance, Dilnavaz curates the Rare Finds – Hindoostan Revisited exhibition to encourage greater interest in these unique works of art and history by giving the visitors to the exhibition an exclusive and impressive glimpse into the Hindoostan of yore.

ON DISLAY AT THE EXHIBITION WILL BE:

Antiquarian and Rare Books are those printed books which have survived for many hundreds of years. Added to the antiquity of the book is its literary, historical or cultural significance. Many books were produced as numbered copies for private circulation and signed which adds to their rarity.

ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOKS

A map is generally defined as a representation usually of a portion of the earth's surface, drawn or printed on a flat surface. With the invention of printing technology and the availability of paper, from the mid sixteenth century onwards, the flat surface used to create a map was mainly paper on which geographical, political, geological or statistical pictorial images were created by using the print making techniques. These old maps were usually produced by the master craftsmen who drew, engraved, printed and coloured the maps. In the earliest times, the master craftsmen were skilled map makers as well as print makers. Decorative borders along with illustrations (vignettes) were often added to the maps to make them visually appealing.

OLD MAPS

A map of the port of Bombay; Dated 1936 A map of Asia by Mallet; dated 1683 A map of India , dated c1870

Original Prints are pictorial images which have been produced by a process which enables them to be multiplied. Prints were published for various reasons. Many were published to commemorate or publicize a particular event while others would have a political or satirical theme. Masterpieces in painting sculpture and architecture were also engraved in addition to prints on landscapes, portraits, costumes, urban views, native life, flora and fauna. Prints were often produced as series (a set).

ORIGINAL PRINTS – LITHOGRAPHS, ENGRAVINGS, ETCHINGS, AQUATINTS, ILLUSTRATIONS

View of the city of Agra from Jumna river, Dated 1857

Bombay, Dated c1860

The Cootub Minar, dated 1834

Princess Victoria Gourimma of Coorg

The original prints, old maps and antiquarian books are collectables and are used for décor.

All the pieces available are limited to one piece only, making them rare limited edition artworks.

NOTEABLE ANTIQUARIAN PRINTS, MAPS AND BOOKS ON DISPLAY AT THE EXHIBITION

OLD ORIGINAL PRINTS – LITHOGRAPHS, ENGRAVING, ETCHINGS, AQUTINTS, ILLUSTRATIONS

The Nawab of Joonagad, dated 1875

Receiving the customary offering of flowers and rose water, dated 1888A Kutcherry ( or court room), dated 1850 Deer Hunting with the cheetah, Hyderabad, 1892

Ice Pits, dated 1850

Toolsie worship, Dated 1850

Indian market, Dated 1864

A Mughal cavalryman, dated 1864

Kanaya –jee, Dated 1850

Madras, dated 1864

The David sassoon Building of the Elphinstone High School, Bombay, dated 1881

Fortress of Bowrie in Rajputana, Dated 1892

The Byculla Station, dated 1854

The Nawab of Joonagad, dated 1875

Diamond Harbour (Calcutta), Dated 1841-61

The ceremony of Banians giving a child its name, dated 1788

The coast of Bombay – Patamar boats, Dated 1841-66

A lady of Indostan, Dated 1757 - 72

The Early Repast, dated 1851

A Gentleman in his private office

attended by his Dufftoree, dated 1813 Venugopal by Rajah Ravi verma

Street view in the native town of Bombay, dated c 1850

Portraits of Mughal Kings, Dated 1732Ganesh Laxmi (Diwali Poojan), Dated c1930

A child’s dandy at Almorah, Dated 1903

The Monkey temple at Benares, dated 1876

FEW NOTEWORTHY ORIGINAL PRINTS - LITHOGRAPHS, ENGRAVING, ETCHINGS, AQUTINTS, ILLUSTRATIONS ON DISPLAY AT THE EXHIBITION

A series Captain Robert Melville Grindlay documenting topography and monuments in western India; published in the year 1892

A series on Boar Hunting in India by A. W. Philips; published in the year 1891

A series titled The European in India by Sir Charles D’oyly , published in the year 1813

A series on Indian Religious and Mythological characters by and published by Ravi Verma and other Indian presses

A series on Indian views, historical personages, monuments by Italian Giulio Ferrario; published during the years 1823- 1830

A series of views and monuments of the city of Bombay; published during the years 1930-1936

A few views or India from the series titled Voyage autour du Monde; published during the years 1841-1866

A series titled Indian Microcosm by John Gantz; published in 1827

A series of portraits of various kings on the Mughal dynasty; published in 1732

A series titled a Brief History of Ancient and Modern India, which includes The Old Court House( Calcutta), View of OOsoor (Mysore), A view within the walls of a Pagoda (at Madras) and Muttra (Mathura) fort, published during the years 1802-1805

ORIGINAL OLD MAPS

Map of Bombay and its environs, dated c1764 A plan of Goa, dated 1780

A map of Persia, dated 1850

A map of northern India (showing the Mughal empire and trade routes), dated 1638

A map of the Kingdom of Bengal; Dated 1773

A map of the Southern Provinces of Hindoostan; dated 1808

Plan of the City of Delhi in the years 1857-58; Dated c1860

An accurate Map of Hindoostan drawn from the latest Authorities; Dated 1794

A map of Asia by John Gibson; Dated 1759

A Tallis map of India; Dated 1850

A FEW NOTEWORTHY OLD ORIGINAL MAPS ON DISPLAY AT THE EXHIBITION

A Map of Northern India showing the Mogul Empire and the overland trade route; Dated 1638

A map of the port of Bombay; Dated 1936

A plan of Goa with a key of the main building and city layout; Dated 1780

A map of The British Possessions in the East Indies, with the Dependent states and Countries adjacent; Dated 1864

A map of the Southern Provinces of Hindoostan; dated 1808

An accurate Map of Hindoostan drawn from the latest Authorities; Dated 1794

A plan of the City of Delhi in the years 1857-58; Dated c1860

A map of Asia by John Gibson; Dated 1759

A map of Asia by Mallet; dated 1683

A map of the Kingdom of Bengal; Dated 1773

A map of Bombay and its environs; Dated c1764

A map of India with a decorative border – the map has a lovely Indian border taken from a hindoo temple at Beneres and two idols of Ganesha and Hanuman over the title box of the map with small vignettes; dated c1870

ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOKS

A FEW NOTEWORTHY ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOKS ON DISPLAY AT THE EXHIBITIONThe Imperial Gazetteer of India – Bengal, Dated: 1909

Early Records of British India a history of the English settlements in India By J. Talboys Wheeler, Dated: 1878

British Social Life in India 1608-1937 By Dennis Kincaid, Dated: 1938

Zigzag journeys in India by Hezekiah Butterworth, Dated: 1887

Military Uniforms of the British Emnpire Overseas, issued by John Player and Sons

The Trial and Desposition of Mulhar Rao Gaekwar of Baroda, Dated 1875

Bombay in the days of Queen Anne By John Burnell, Dated 1933

Bihzad and the Paintings of the Zafar Nameh By Mrs. Thomas Arnold, Dated: 1930

Jamnagar A sketch of its Ruler and Adminsitration By Naoroji Dumasia, Dated: 1927

Handbooks for the study of Sanskrit By Max Meller, dated 1866

Indian Broderies, Dated c1860

Chow Chow being Selections from a journal kept in India, Egypt and Syria By Viscountess Falkland , Dated 1857

SHOW VENUE CYMROZA ART GALLERY 1st floor, 72, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400026. Tel: 23671983/23641755 Fax: 3671999

Timings: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On View from 12th December to 18th December, 2012 (open on Sunday)

For further information please contact:DILNAVAZ MEHTA At RARE FINDS- HINDOOSTAN REVISITEDOriginal Prints, Old Maps and Antiquarian Books67, Jame Jamshed Building, 811, Parsi Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400 014 IndiaTelephone: (91-22) 24121347/ +91-9820222062Email: info.rarefinds@gmail.com / hindoostanrevisited@gmail.comwww.rarefinds.co.in and www.hindoostanrevisited.com

ABOUT DILNAVAZ MEHTA: Dilnavaz Mehta is an entrepreneur who is the proprietor of Rare Finds and Hindoostan Revisited She has a M.Sc. degree in Microbiology and a diploma in Indian Aesthetics. She has extensively researched and studied antiquarian books, maps, prints, paintings, drawings published in and on India from the seventeenth century till the early twentieth century. She is a Special guest lecturer for post graduate studies at Bombay and Benares University. She also lectures at other post garduate courses offered by private institututions.She has reviewed books and has authored articles for magazines, travel journals and art publications on the subject of British and European artists in India, early paintings, prints and maps of India as well as the Company School of painting. She has given presentations on these subjects at artistic and cultural gatherings; and at local and national seminars.Through her companies Rare Finds and Hindoostan Revisited, she deals in antiquarian books, maps and prints .