Rhymes from Roundabout -
Rodway Swinhoe, T. Martin Jones, Winifred Edge (illustrators)
1925 - The Rangoon Times Press, Burma - First Edition
An extremely rare and wonderfully illustrated collection of forty-five ‘Rhymes’ and songs, a clever and cheeky presentation of expatriate life in early 20th century Burma, by Rodway Swinhoe (1863-1927), a Rangoon based Barrister.
Ranging from ‘The Song of the Upper Burma Club’ (relating the unfortunate removal of the ‘Club’ from the King’s Palace in which it was founded) to ‘On the Roads of Mandalay’ (dedicated to the opening of the Mandalay Tramway System in 1904), ‘The Kuchparwanay House’ to ‘The Making of Rangoon’.
Creatively Illustrated throughout by Burma’s most prominent cartoonist of the time, Martin Jones’ with assistance from Winifred Edge. In the publisher’s original illustrated cloth covers. Rodway Charles John Swinhoe (1863-1927) Barrister and amateur archaeologist, started his career in Calcutta in 1887. Moved to Mandalay, Burma in 1888, died in Maymyo, Burma in 1927. Author of 'The Incomplete Guide to Burma', published in Rangoon (Yangon) in the 1920s, which was also illustrated by T. Martin Jones and published by the Rangoon Times Press.
See you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1_hdd72lmU
‘The death occurred at Mandalay on August 5 at the age of 64 of Mr. Rodway Charles John Swinhoe, who for many years had been a solicitor at Mandalay (Burma) and was for a time additional Judicial Commissioner. He was the younger son of the late Henry Swinhoe, of Garden Reach, Cheltenham, and was educated at Cheltenham College from 1872 to 1882. He was the father of Capt. L. R. Swinhoe (O.C.), of the 1st Warwickshire Regiment.’ – Gloucestershire Echo.
‘AMBER mines have long been known in Upper Burma, or rather in the adjacent “unadministered tracts.” In 1916 Mr. R. C. J. Swinhoe, of Mandalay, began to send me specimens of Burmese amber (Burmite) containing insects. As opportunity has offered, he has continued to obtain such material, all of which has been transmitted, after investigation, to the British Museum (Natural History)’ – T. Cockerell - British Museum - ‘Fossils in Burmese Amber’ - 3 June 1922.
T. Martin Jones – ‘Martin Jones, for instance, became renowned for his realistic depictions of Burmese figures. When not creating cartoons he served as a high-ranking official in Burma’s railway department. In 1918, Jones and several other Britons, including Professor Kenneth Martin Ward, formed the Burma Art Club (BAC) in Rangoon.” - Pioneers of Burmese Cartooning, The Irrawaddy – Aung Zaw AUG, 2003.
‘When Martin Jones became the club chairman, the BAC introduced club rules. Martin Jones was Railways Commissioner and club members had to attend in suits in a respectful style. There were other attendees from the Chinese and Indian communities. At that time, few clubs were recognized by the government. They included the Gymkhana Club, Boat Club and Pegu Club (membership was only for Europeans; when the Burmese Sir J.A. Maung Gyi became governor of Burma, he was refused membership). After the Burma Art Club attained government registration, officials from the British administration and education sectors paid it more respect, to the extent that only artists who had a certificate from the club could hold a job as art teacher in schools.’
Reference: Patricia Herbert, Burma, 732, but referencing ‘The incomplete guide to Burma’, no mention of this rare gem. Schwertner, Burma Bibliographical Project, S249. Andrew Selth, Burma, Kipling and Western Music The Riff from Mandalay.
Large thin octavo (book size 22.5x14.5cm), pp. [2] iv 83 [1]. In publisher’s red cloth, with vignette and lettering in black to front. Condition: Fine in near fine cloth covers, some light soiling. Ref: 111799 Price: HK$ 8,000
Ranging from ‘The Song of the Upper Burma Club’ (relating the unfortunate removal of the ‘Club’ from the King’s Palace in which it was founded) to ‘On the Roads of Mandalay’ (dedicated to the opening of the Mandalay Tramway System in 1904), ‘The Kuchparwanay House’ to ‘The Making of Rangoon’.
Creatively Illustrated throughout by Burma’s most prominent cartoonist of the time, Martin Jones’ with assistance from Winifred Edge. In the publisher’s original illustrated cloth covers. Rodway Charles John Swinhoe (1863-1927) Barrister and amateur archaeologist, started his career in Calcutta in 1887. Moved to Mandalay, Burma in 1888, died in Maymyo, Burma in 1927. Author of 'The Incomplete Guide to Burma', published in Rangoon (Yangon) in the 1920s, which was also illustrated by T. Martin Jones and published by the Rangoon Times Press.
See you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1_hdd72lmU
‘The death occurred at Mandalay on August 5 at the age of 64 of Mr. Rodway Charles John Swinhoe, who for many years had been a solicitor at Mandalay (Burma) and was for a time additional Judicial Commissioner. He was the younger son of the late Henry Swinhoe, of Garden Reach, Cheltenham, and was educated at Cheltenham College from 1872 to 1882. He was the father of Capt. L. R. Swinhoe (O.C.), of the 1st Warwickshire Regiment.’ – Gloucestershire Echo.
‘AMBER mines have long been known in Upper Burma, or rather in the adjacent “unadministered tracts.” In 1916 Mr. R. C. J. Swinhoe, of Mandalay, began to send me specimens of Burmese amber (Burmite) containing insects. As opportunity has offered, he has continued to obtain such material, all of which has been transmitted, after investigation, to the British Museum (Natural History)’ – T. Cockerell - British Museum - ‘Fossils in Burmese Amber’ - 3 June 1922.
T. Martin Jones – ‘Martin Jones, for instance, became renowned for his realistic depictions of Burmese figures. When not creating cartoons he served as a high-ranking official in Burma’s railway department. In 1918, Jones and several other Britons, including Professor Kenneth Martin Ward, formed the Burma Art Club (BAC) in Rangoon.” - Pioneers of Burmese Cartooning, The Irrawaddy – Aung Zaw AUG, 2003.
‘When Martin Jones became the club chairman, the BAC introduced club rules. Martin Jones was Railways Commissioner and club members had to attend in suits in a respectful style. There were other attendees from the Chinese and Indian communities. At that time, few clubs were recognized by the government. They included the Gymkhana Club, Boat Club and Pegu Club (membership was only for Europeans; when the Burmese Sir J.A. Maung Gyi became governor of Burma, he was refused membership). After the Burma Art Club attained government registration, officials from the British administration and education sectors paid it more respect, to the extent that only artists who had a certificate from the club could hold a job as art teacher in schools.’
Reference: Patricia Herbert, Burma, 732, but referencing ‘The incomplete guide to Burma’, no mention of this rare gem. Schwertner, Burma Bibliographical Project, S249. Andrew Selth, Burma, Kipling and Western Music The Riff from Mandalay.
Large thin octavo (book size 22.5x14.5cm), pp. [2] iv 83 [1]. In publisher’s red cloth, with vignette and lettering in black to front. Condition: Fine in near fine cloth covers, some light soiling. Ref: 111799 Price: HK$ 8,000