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An Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama, in Tibet: Containing a Narrative of a Journey Through Bootan, and Part of Tibet by Captain Samuel Turner Printed by W. Bulmer & Co, and sold by G. & W. Nicol, Bookseller to his Majesty, Pall-Mall London, 1800 THE RARE FIRST EDITION - SUBTITLE: continued: Mineralogical & Medical, by Mr. Robert Saunders.
Previously owned by Walter Wilson Froggatt, (1858 - 1937), famous Australian Entomologist (see below)
A very early & important primary account of Tibet. Cox stated, "This is without comparison the most valuable work that has yet appeared on Tibet."
Large 4to. (approximately 9” x 11”). 473 pp. 1 folding engraved map after Samuel Davis, 13 plates. 1 double-page line engraving of script. Appendix.
CONDITION: Bound in full leather, gold stamped. The work was neatly rebacked in the distant past by J. A. Martyn, covers are period full leather. Firm example, with all pages & plates, complete. Rubbed covers and spine. Wear to spine-cover edge. Discoloration from old label on front cover lower right. Name signed on title page. Tight textblock. Gilt edges. No pages missing. Pictures/engravings in very good condition. All flypapers present. Few stains on pages. Browning to pages. Else contents very clean. Two labels to front inside cover: Please see pictures as they are part of the description. An account of the second British Mission to Tibet made by Turner at the request of Warren Hastings in 1783, following the installation of the new Panchen Lama. Turner's narrative remained the earliest and best on Tibet in English for many years as the account of Bogle's 1774 Mission was not published until 1876. The book also contains an account of affairs in Tibet from 1785-1793, including a description of the Nepalese-Tibetan War of 1788-1792. Turner was a Captain in the East India Service, he led an exhibition into Tibet in 1783-85, from which he wrote this present work. CONTENTS: A valuable primary early source. Covering his sojourn to Bootan frontier, Chong and to Arra, etymology, view of Buxadewar, Peachukom mountain, botanical notes, Sheenshilla, fatal accident. Chain bridge, Madwallahs Pauga, Patchieu, Noomnoo, Poes, Tassisudon and Daeb Raja, Zoompoon, tea, fashion, reception, Gylongs, Aubi. Palace of the Chief, Palace of Lam' Ghassaatoo, Mr. Saunder. See Cox “With an account of the vegetable & mineral productions of Bootan and Tibet”. Letter addressed to the Hon. J. MacPherson, Esq. Governor General of Bengal. journey of Poorungheer to Teshoo Loombo; the Inauguration of Teshoo Lama, the state of Tibet from 1783-1785. With rich appendices, translations & narratives. Richly illustrated with copper engravings by Basire. A primary source for study of Turner's historic mission.
Acting on Warren Hastings' orders, Samuel Turner's expedition was despatched with the aim of improving trans-Himalayan trade after the Nepal war. Turner's party, including the surgeon and botanist Dr Robert Saunders, set off from Calcutta in January 1783. Davis was to survey the route and record the topographical features of the country . While in Bhutan during their first audience with the Deb Raja in his palace at Tassisudon, Turner explained to him that 'drawing constituted in England a branch of education; and that we made unequal progress in the art, I could boast but little skill in it, but that my friend Mr. Davis had attained a great degree of perfection' . After four months in Bhutan waiting for permission to enter Tibet . the three men were told that only Turner and Saunders could proceed. Turner believed that the authorities were suspicious of Davis's drawing skills . Leaving Davis behind in Bhutan . Turner and Saunders departed for Tibet on 8 September 1783. Their travels were to last until March the following year" (Indian Life & Landscape p.194). The Table of Plates notes that the plates were all engraved from originals in the possession of Warren Hastings - including the image of the Yak. The Yak was one of a pair sent to Hastings, by his kinsman, Turner. Only one survived the journey, and it is this animal that was painted by George Stubbs from life. In the background, Stubbs incorporates Davis's view of Punakha Dzong, the summer palace in Bhutan. Walter Wilson Froggatt, (1858 - 1937) Born: 13 June 1858, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Died: 18 March 1937, Croydon, New South Wales, Australia Occupation: Economic Entomologist William Froggatt was one of Australia's foremost entomologists. His early career was as collector on the New Guinea Exploring Expedition, for William J. Macleay, and for the Sydney Technological College. In 1896 he was appointed Government Entomologist with the New South Wales Department of Mines and Agriculture (later Agriculture) where his responsibilities included investigations of insect pests and the diseases they caused. Such was his expertise that he undertook studies for other jurisdictions including the Victorian and Queensland governments and those of the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides. He was outspoken (and a lone voice) in his opposition to the introduction of cane toads to Australia to control cane beetles. Froggatt was a prolific writer on Australian entomology both in scientific journals and for the general public. His book Australian insects (1907) was the first general textbook on Australian entomology. Later books included works on timber borers and Australian spiders, and introductory texts for children. Froggatt was active in scientific societies serving as president of several and being a member of Council of the Linnean Society of New South Wales for over 40 years. His collection of insect specimens was purchased by the Commonwealth Government. The Froggatt Award (sometimes called the Biosecure Australia Award) was awarded by the by the Invasive Species Council from 2003 to 2006, with presentations resuming in 2015, to people who have made major contributions to protecting Australia from invasive pests. The endemic insect genus Froggattisca (Myrmeleontidae: Neuoptera) was named in his honour. |