“TREADS THE BATTLEFIELD OF HISTORY WITH A FIRM, CAUTIOUS AND STRAIGHTFORWARD STEP”: HENRY BEVERIDGE’S COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF INDIA
BEVERIDGE, Henry. A Comprehensive History of India, Civil, Military, and Social… London: Blackie and Son, circa 1862. Three volumes. Thick royal octavo, original blue blind- and gilt-stamped cloth, uncut and partially unopened.
Early edition of Beveridge's impressive history, illustrated with over 500 in-text engravings, frontispieces and vignette title pages in each volume and 19 color maps, four folding.
A judge in the Indian Civil Service (and father of noted economist and social reformer William Henry Beveridge), Beveridge "was a passionate advocate of Indian nationalism and home rule… [Both he and his wife Annette] were deeply attached to Indian culture, and both became distinguished oriental scholars and translators of Hindi and Persian texts" (DNB). Here, Beveridge surveys Indian history and society from ancient times through his own. "tread[ing] the battlefield of history with a firm, cautious and straightforward step" (The Athenaeum, April 1862). General index in Volume III. Originally published in parts, 1858-62.
Scattered light foxing, soiling. Front inner hinges expertly reinforced. Mild rubbing to original cloth- gilt. A very good copy.