Beschreibung:

Dalrymple, Alexander ORIENTAL REPERTORY. LONDON: GEORGE BIGG, 1793 [-1797] FIRST EDITION, LARGE PAPER COPY, 2 volumes (see footnote), 4to (316 x 227mm.), (vol.1 [parts 1-4]) [ii], 4 ("A Plan for the Publication"), [ii], iv, 4, iv, iv, iv, [iv], 578, [xvi] pp., 16 maps and plates; (vol.2 [part 1]) iv, 168pp., 6 maps and plates; [part 2] iv, 169-336pp., 5 maps and plates; [part 3] 4, 337-484pp., one map; [part 4] 4, 485-576pp., one plate - 11 extra maps and plates are added here but are not called for - together a total of 40 maps and plates in both volumes, contemporary calf, bound without the printed pink and green title-wrappers to each part, and contents leaves [also lacking in the BL copy], vol.2 without general title (see footnote), some plates slightly cropped, rebacked retaining original spines Volume 1 contains four parts, and also has a prospectus, "A Plan for the Publication of a Repertory of Oriental Information", dated 1790. Volume 2 contains four parts; a fifth part was published some years later (in 1808) and is not present here. This set is extra-illustrated with eleven additional plates and maps bound at the end of volume 2. Rare. Only one copy is recorded at auction in 40 years (also on large paper, without a general title in volume 2, and without the final part). The prospectus states that "The [East India] Company... shall be entitled, to receive 100 copies of each Number.. of the whole Impression of 250 copies". The work contains contributions by Dalrymple and others on many subjects, mostly relating to India, including the cultivation of pepper, tea and sugar, castes, weather, journeys and embassies, accounts of regions, treaties, letters, and also "Some account of Cochin-China", "Exports to and imports from Japan", "Some remarks... of Mauritius and Bourbon", "The Teshoo-Lama's journey to Pekin" and "Remarks on the trade of Canton".