Color Portraits of the Madras Army
Published in Chennai, 1841
HUNSLEY, William. Costumes of the Madras Army. St. Thomas's Mount [Madras/Chennai], [1839-]1841.

Very rare suite of Indian color-plates. We can find no record of copies at auction in either RBH or ABPC. In institutional copies that we locate, the two series of "Officers" and "Natives" seem to be bound separately; here they are interleaved, both title-pages appear at the beginning, and some plates in the "Natives" series are alternatively headed "Costumes of the Madras Army." An early owner, presumably John Wylie, has provided pencil notes on a few plates, identifying locations in the backgrounds such as "General Showers' House," "Col. Dalrymple's Cenotaph," and the practice battery at the Mount.

Folio (394 x 310mm). Lithographed throughout comprising two title-pages with hand-colored vignettes depicting Anglo officers and native Indians respectively, 34 hand-colored lithographed plates printed by William Porter after drawings by William Hunsley and colored by Hunsley (only, of 39; about five plates slightly shorter and toned, these dated 1840 and with a few repaired tears; scattered minor spots/stains). Contemporary red half morocco, upper cover lettered in gilt, edges gilt (neatly rebacked with original spine laid down, plates on modern stubs). Provenance: Dr. John Wylie, Arndean (1790-1852, decorated physician in the Madras service; bookplate, ownership inscription, few pencil annotations).