View from the Tower of Silence looking towards the Fort, Bombay

Circa 1870s

Albumen print mounted on card

7.5 x 9.25 in   |  19 x 23.3 cm

An earlier snapshot from the 1870s depicts Bombay, or today's Mumbai's, Back Bay as seen from the Tower of Silence. It is located on the Back Bay's northern promontory. One of the first images of the Malabar Hill region is this one, with a stunning, albeit somewhat weak, vista of Mumbai's Back Bay and its sloping shoreline. By the turn of the century, this coastline had been transformed into Chowpatty Beach on one end and the now-famous Marine Drive with its promenade on the other.

From a distance, it is possible to make out the Rajabai Clock Tower, the Mumbai Secretariat, and other structures. The undeveloped and unkempt trail leading to Malabar Hill can be seen in the foreground. During the British era itself, these unpaved pathways were replaced by brand-new roadways to suburbanize the brand-new bungalows on Malabar Hill and Cumballa Hill.

The Raj Bhavan is located further down, closer to the sea. The former official house of the British Governor of Bombay was Mumbai's Raj Bhavan. Nevertheless, it was moved around a lot. Its original location was within the walls of the Bombay Castle, moving subsequently to Apollo Street and finally Parel. In 1895, it was finally moved to its current location. Since then, it has functioned as the official house for the British and later Indian Governors.

NON-EXPORTABLE

This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of each book.