Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [Views in the Birman Empire] - with - Rangoon Views and Combined Operations in the Birman Empire - Lieutenant Joseph Moore, Captain Frederick Marryat October 1825 - January 1826 - Kingsbury &, London - First Editions A rare set of these twenty three hand-coloured aquatint plates from the first and second series, exceptionally bright colours. Together with the engraved allegorical title-dedication leaf for the ‘Eighteen Views’ [First Series] by R. W. Smart after Thomas Stothard, the aquatint leaf listing the eight most important subscribers with large vignette by J. Bromley after Thomas Stothard, and six page lithographed list of subscribers in England and India.

These aquatint plates, published during the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-1826, concentrate on Rangoon, captured by the British in 1824. In the subject matter of the plates there is an interesting comparison between graphic battle scenes and picturesque views of the Burmese countryside and architecture. Although Moore wished to record the details of the battles he was involved in, he also wanted to depict the pagodas, temples and views around Rangoon.

A complete set of the first series of eighteen plates from drawings by Lieutenant Joseph Moore, together with five plates from the second series from original sketches by Captain Marryat, which were published eight months later.

With rather fabulous provenance, coming from the Honourable East India Company’s East India College Library (with their armourial bookplate), which was founded in 1806. The ‘
Eighteen Views’ are dedicated to the Court of Directors of the East India Company. The contemporary binding is by Stephen Austin of Hertford, Stephen Austin had been associated with the East India College since boyhood. When it closed in 1858 he was a leading member of the group which set up the public school in William Wilkins’s classical buildings at Hertford Heath.

Plate 16, in first state with ‘ajacent’ (corrected to adjacent in the second state), and plate 14 of the first series and plates 1, 2, & 3 of the second series marked ‘Proof’. The Abbey catalogue notes that ‘... it does not seem that the appearance or non-appearance of the word 'Proof' can be made into an issue point, and, in fact, it seems that all the plate differences must be ascribed to states, not issues’.
  Following Burmese incursions into British held territory in 1821-1823 (including the successful invasion of Assam), the Governor-General, Lord Amherst, declared war on Burma on February 24, 1824. The British were successful in expelling the Burmese from Assam, but Bandula, the ablest of the Burmese generals, repelled a British detachment at Ramu on the Chittagong frontier. In reply, the British sent an expedition of 11,000 men under Major-General Archibald Campbell and ships under Captain Frederick Marryat to attack Rangoon by sea. The expedition resulted in the capture of Rangoon on May 11, 1824, with the Burmese forces fleeing into jungles of Pegu. Meanwhile, Bandula had been recalled and arrived in Rangoon on December 1 with 60,000 men. He was, however, defeated on December 15 and then retreated to Donabew, where, after a brave defence, he was killed in April 1825. On April 25, Campbell captured Prome, the capital of Lower Burma. The fighting continued sporadically throughout the rest of 1825 and into 1826, until a peace treaty was signed on February 24. Joseph Moore was a Lieutenant in the 89th Regiment. Frederick Marryat's involvement in the conflict began in March 1823 when he "commissioned the Larne for service in the East Indies, where he arrived in time to take an active part in the first Burmese war. From May to September 1824 he was senior naval officer at Rangoon, and was officially thanked for his able, gallant, and zealous co-operation with the troops. The very sickly state of the ship obliged him to go to Penang, but by the end of December he was back at Rangoon, and in February 1825 he had the naval command of an expedition up the Bassein River, which occupied Bassein and seized the Burmese magazines." (DNB).

Provenance: East India College Library [1806-58], with their armourial bookplate (partially removed and with ‘Disposed of’ inkstamp). The East India Company College, or East India College, was an educational establishment situated at Hailey, Hertfordshire, nineteen miles north of London, founded in 1806 to train "writers" (administrators) for the Honourable East India Company. It provided general and vocational education for young gentlemen of sixteen to eighteen years old, who were nominated by the Company's directors to writerships in its overseas civil service. The college was closed in 1858.

References: Abbey,
Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, 404. Tooley, English Books with Coloured Plates 1790 to 1860 (1954), 334. Sadleir 1610 &1610a2. Schwertner, Burma Bibliography, M119, M44.

Two parts bound in one atlas folio (binding size 49x36.4cm, sheet size 48x34.7cm), pp. [2] Pictorial engraved dedication to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, pictorial engraved subscribers plate, [5 (lithographed list of subscribers in England and India)] [1] [2 (lithographed list of subscribers)] 23 hand-coloured aquatint views [2].

List of Plates
First Series ( (published by Kingsbury & Co. & T. Clay, October 1st 1825 (i), November 9th 1825 (ii) and January 2nd 1826 (iii). Engraved by George Hunt*, Henry Pyall (1795-1833)**, Theodore Fielding (1781-1851)***, and Reeve Jnr.**** from drawings by J. Moore):
1. The Harbour of Port Cornwallis, Island of Great Andaman, with the Fleet getting under Weigh for Rangoon. i*
2. View of the landing at Rangoon of part of the Combined Forces from Bengal and Madras, under the Orders of Sir Archibald Campbell, K.C.B. on the 11th of May 1824. i**
3. The Principal approach to the Great Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. ii***
4. View of the Great Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon and Scenery adjacent to the Westward of the Great Road. ii**
5. Scene upon the Terrace of the Great Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon looking towards the North. i*
6. The Attack upon the Stockades near Rangoon by Sir Archibald Campbell, K.C.B. on the 28th of May 1824. ii*
7. The Gold Temple of the principal Idol Guadma, taken from its front being the Eastern face of the Great Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. i*
8. Inside View of the Gold Temple on the Terrace of the Great Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. ii*
9. Scene from the Upper Terrace of the Great Pagoda at Rangoon, to the South East. iii**
10. The Storming of the Lesser Stockade at Kemmendine near Rangoon on the 10th of June 1824. iii*
11. View of the Lake and part of the Eastern Road from Rangoon, taken from the Advance of the 7th Madras Native Infantry. ii*
12. Rangoon. The Position of part of the Army previous to attacking the Stockades on the 8th of July 1824. i*
13. Scene upon the Eastern Road from Rangoon looking towards the South. ii*
14. Scene upon the Terrace of the Great Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon, taken near the Great Bell. iii* (marked ‘Proof’).
15. Rangoon. The Storming of one of the principal Stockades on its inside on the 8th of July 1824. i*
16. View of the Great Dagon Pagoda and ajacent Scenery taken on the Eastern Road from Rangoon. ii***
17. The Conflagration of Dalla on the Rangoon River. iii*
18. The Attack of the Stockades at Pagoda Point, on the Rangoon River, by Sir Archd. Campbell, K.C.B. 8th, July 1824. iii****

Second Series (published by Thomas Clay, September 12th, 1826. Engraved by Henry Pyall (1795-1833), painted by T. Stothard R.A.*, D. Cox**, and G. Webster***, from original sketches by Capt. Marryat):
1. The Storming of the Fort of Syriam by a combined force of Sailors, and European & Native Troops, on the 5th Augt. 1824. * (marked ‘Proof’).
2. The Attack of the Dalla Stockade by the Combined Forces, on the 4th Septr. 1824. * (marked ‘Proof’).
3. The attempt of the Birmans to retake the Stockades of Dalla, on the Night of the 6th Septr. 1824. ** (marked ‘Proof’).
4. One of the Birman Gilt War Boats Captured by Captn. Chads, R.N. in his successful expedition against Tanthabeen Stockade. *
5. H.M.S. Larne, H.C. Cruizer Mercury, Heroine, Carron & Lotus, Transports attacking the Stockades at the entrance of Bassein River, on the 26th Feby. 1825. ***

Without the final plate in the second series (’The Combined Forces under Brig. Cotton, C.B. and Captains Alexander, C.B. & Chads, R.N. passing the Fortress of Donabue to effect a junction with Sir Archibald Campbell, on the 27th March 1825’ (Painted by T. Stothard R.A. from a sketch by Capt. Thornton R.N. Published Sepember 12th, 1826 by Tho. Clay. Engraved by H. Pyall).

Paper watermarked J Whatman 1825 and 1826.

All plates collated, checked for publisher, date, engraver, artist, correct spelling and grammar of titles, and whether ‘Proof’ marked on plate or not [February 2022].
  In contemporary binding by Stephen Austin of Hertford, most likely bound for the East India College Library, in quarter green hatched morocco over matching cloth, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, twin gilt fillets to boards, grey-green coated endpapers.   Condition: Some foxing to text to dedication and important subscribers plates, some minor stains and marks to borders of colour plates, last five of which have the margins extended, most likely at the time of binding in the second half of the 19th century, binding in near fine condition with some rubbing and light soiling to boards.   Ref: 111066   Price: HK$ 135,000