History of Indian and Eastern Architecture [2 Volumes]

James Fergusson, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1972

In 2 Volumes
Volume I: 450 page including 263 black and white woodcut text illustrations and 17 plates
Volume II: 521 pages including 512 black and white woodcut text illustrations and 65 plates
Full leather bound with 5 raised bands and gilt text at the spine (each)

The book covers Buddhist architecture, Jain architecture, architecture in the Himalayas, Dravidian style, Chalukyan style, Northern or Indo-Aryan style, Saracenic architecture, Further India (Burma, Siam, Java, Cambodia), and China.

A prolific architectural historian and noted antiquarian, James Fergusson spent his early years as a businessman in Calcutta. The second son of Dr. William Fergusson, he was born in 1808 and studied at Edinburgh High School, followed by a private school in Hounslow which groomed him to take his place at Fairlie, Fergusson & Company in Calcutta where his older brother was a partner. He arrived in India at a young age and started his own indigo factory. In 10 years, Fergusson was able to retire from the business and fulfill his passion for archaeological studies. Although the family business suffered losses, which in turn impacted his fortune, Fergusson's zeal for the antiquarian remained resolute. He was a skilled draughtsman with the camera lucida and had spent considerable time documenting his travels in India between 1835 and 1842.

During this time, he painstakingly prepared exhaustive and accurate measurements and drawings of Indian buildings, which formed the basis of his best-known works. In 1840, he was elected a member of the Royal Asiatic Society. Three years later, he read out his paper, The Rock-Cut Temples of India, to the society, which was subsequently published in their journal. 1845 was the year of Fergusson's last visit to India.

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.