A Gazetteer of the Territories under the Government of the East-India Company, and of the Native States on the Continent of India. Compiled by the Authority of the Hon. Court of Directors, and Chiefly from Documents in their Possession.

THORNTON, Edward.

Published by London: W.H. Allen & Co., 1854

About this Item

First edition of this comprehensive gazetteer, an uncommon and entirely invaluable reference work, this edition much preferred to that issued three years later condensed into an unmanageable single volume and issued without the map. Rare in the cloth, and here completely unopened. The contents extend far beyond bald geographical information, taking in the historical, ethnographical, and anecdotal. The compiler, Edward Thornton (1799-1875) - often confused with Edward Parry Thornton, the Indian administrator - was on the staff of East-India House for over 40 years. He was head of the Statistical Department from 1846-57 and of the Marine Department from 1847, and he is rightly considered to be the pioneer in the systematic collection and publication of Indian statistics. 4 vols, octavo. Hand-coloured folding engraved map as frontispiece (420 x 350 mm) by John Walker. Original dark reddish-purple diaper-grain cloth, gilt-lettered spine divided by blind Greek key bands, sides decorated with a blind Greek key border, pale yellow surface-paper endpapers. Spines sunned, bindings just a little rubbed and with a few marks, scattered foxing. A very good set.

Seller Inventory # 172388

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Gazetteer of the Territories under the Government of the East-India Company, and of the Native States on the Continent of India. Compiled by the Authority of the Hon. Court of Directors, and Chiefly from Documents in their Possession.
• Publisher: London: W.H. Allen & Co., 1854
• Edition: 1st Edition