RASK, RASMUS KRISTIAN:

Singalesisk skriftlaere. Kolombo 1821 (1822).

. Pp. 16. As issued, uncut. The title page printed several years later in Copenhagen not present here (but supplied in facsimile). With important provenance: Fredrik Peter Jacob Dahl, Danish linguist. With inscription on first page reading that F.P.J. Dahl received this copy from Rask August 11, 1823. First and only edition of this Sinhalese grammar by the famous Danish linguist Rasmus Rask. In this work Rask compares Sinhalese with Sanskrit, Pali, Tamil, Telugi and other Asian languages. He deals with the phonetics, pronunciation, accentuation and numerals. In the introduction Rask explains that very little was known about the Sinhalese language up to this date and therefore Klaproth did not include anything about it in his "Asia Polyglotta" published a few years earlier. Rask travelled to India to study the relationship between the European and Asian languages, and he visited Ceylon (Sri Lanka) for about nine months in 1821/22. We believe the text was printed at Colombo in 1821 or 1822 but that the title page was not printed until 1828 or later in Copenhagen because the printed text on verso of the title is dated 1828. See Rhodes: "The Spread of Printing" Eastern Hemisphere, India, Burma, Ceylon, Burma and Thailand (1969) p. 76. Vater p. 73. Zenker ii 3019.

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Book number: 121064

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, singhalese, cingalese, ceylon, sri lanka, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, language, langue, linguistic

RIJNHART, SUSIE CARSON:

With the Tibetans in Tent and Temple. Narrative of Four Years' Residence on the Tibetan Border, and of a Journey into the Far Interior. Fifth edition. Foreign Christian Missionary Society, Cincinnati, Ohio, (1905?).

. Pp. (viii), 406. With one folding map and thirteen plates (mainly photographs). Publisher's cloth stamped in black, lightly darkened. Old ownership signature.Susan Carson, a Canadian doctor married a Dutch missionary Petrus Rijnhart who had joined the China Inland Mission in 1890. In 1898 Susie, Petrus and their little baby boy started a journey towards the forbidden city of Lhasa. But they never reached it. During the journey Rijnhart's child had died, Petrus mysterously disappeared and Susan had to make a two-month hazardous journey back to China by herself. First edition was issued in 1901. Robinson p.170. Yakushi (1984) R117a.

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Book number: 121196

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, tibet, tibetan, china, chine, chinese, kina, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, travel, exploration, missionary, lady trabeller

ANURUDDHA-SATAKA

[SINHALESE]. [An ancient Sanskrit poem in 101 stanzas, in praise of the Buddha, with an anonymous interverbal translation into Sinhalese]. Edited by A. da Silva Devarakkhita Batuvantudave. Colombo, N.S. Cooray, 1879.

. Pp. 39. Text in Sinhalese. Occasionally some light browning. Third edition, first Colombo 1866. Contemporary full calf, blind-pressed border on covers, rubbed, spine cracked with loss. Bookbinder label: E.A. Philip, Messenger Street no. 66. BOUND WITH: APPUHAMI, T. GUNASEKARA & APPUHAMI, T. KURE: [....] Indraguruluwa [About astrology]. No place, but probably Colombo 1880. Pp. (iv), 30. Text in Sinhalese, with illustrations. Some staining to the title. The Indragurulu method is a very subtle method of astrology.

Charlotte Du Rietz Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 120531

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, ceylon, sri lanka, sinhalese, religion, religious, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, religious, singalese

SCHOTT, WILHELM:

Über die Sprache des volkes R—ng oder Leptscha in Sikkim. Berlin, Verlag der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1882.

. 4to. Pp. 15, (1). Original printed wrappers. ("Aus den Abhandlungen der Königl. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Belin 1881"). Lepcha is a Tibetan-Burman language spoken in Sikkim, West Bengal and Kalimpong, and also in Nepal and Bhutan.

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Book number: 99518

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, indian, sikkim, language, langue, linguistic, lepcha, r—ng, r—ng-r’ng, bengal, kalimpong, nepal, bhutan

SCHÖTTGEN (SCHOETTGENIUS), JOHAN CHRISTIAN / [WALTHER, CHRISTOPH THEODOSII]:

Vita et agon viri admodum reverendi Christophori Theodosii Waltheri, per annos XV. missionarii danici apud Trangambariensis optime meriti. Halle, litteris et impensis Orphanotrophei, 1742.

. 4to. Pp. 36 printed on thick paper. Partly with small marginal stain. Old paper wrappers, some discolouration, dog eared. A rare work about a German missionary and linguist. Christoph Walther (1699-1741) served in Danish India for many years at the beginning of the 18th century. He compiled several works about the mission, and biblical and linguistic works on Tamil.

Charlotte Du Rietz Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 121103

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, indian, tranquebar, danish mission, coromandel, inde, missionary, language, linguist, biography

SEBASTIANI, GIUSEPPE DE SANTA MARIA:

Seconda speditione all' Indie Orientali. Roma, nella stamperia di Filippo M. Mancini, 1672.

. 4to. Pp. (xxiv), 261, (1). With one nice large folding engraved map "Serra de Malavari". Contemporary full vellum, top of spine repaired, title in manuscript on spine. Old ownership signature on title page. First edition of Sebastiani's account of his second voyage to India between 1660 and 1665. Sebastiani, Bishop of Hierapolis and Apostolic Commissary of Serra, was sent on missions to India to try to reunite the warring factions in Malabar. The journey passed through Aleppo, Ninive, Basra and Goa before reaching Cochin (Kochi). During this time he witnessed the fall of Cochin in 1661 and Cranganore (Kodungallur) in 1663 to the Dutch. Lach & Van Kley, 3:1, p. 383.

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Book number: 29139

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, indian, inde, travel, travels, voyage, exploration, asia, asie, asien, asian, asiatic,

SIMPSON, WILLIAM:

The Buddhist Praying-Wheel. A Collection of Material Bearing upon the Symbolism of the Wheel and Circular Movements in Custom and Religious Ritual. London, Macmillan and Co., 1896.

. Pp. viii, 304. Including one frontispiece and many illustrations in the text. Publisher's red cloth, praying wheel in gilt on front cover, spine slightly faded. First edition. The author spent some time in the Himalayas during the years 1860-61 and then passed over the boundary into Tibet and visited the Lamaseries and got interested in the so called "Praying-Wheel".

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Book number: 40018

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, buddhist, praying wheel, tibet. tibetan, asia, asie, asiatic, travel, exploration, explore, voyage

SKOTTSBERG, CARL & MONTELL, GÖSTA , etc.:

Hedinexpeditionens resultat. Särtryck ur Ymer 1951, h.3. Stockholm 1951.

. Pp. 161-224. With one folding coloured map and illustrations in the text. Original wrappers. Inscribed by Hedin to S.H. Prinzen Friedrich Ernst. A treatise initiated by "Sällskapet för Antropologi och Geografi" about the scientific results from the Sino-Swedish expedition. Offprint from Ymer.

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Book number: 100302

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, tibet, tibetan, asia, asien, asian, asiatic, travel, exploration,

SMITH, JOHN MACDONALD:

A Practical Handbook of the Khond Language. Cuttack, Printed at the Orissa Mission Press, 1876.

. Pp. iv, 130. Contemporary half calf over pebbled boards, ruled and lettered in gilt, corners lightly rubbed. Contemporary inscription "from the compiler" to front end-paper. Smith's name beneath in another hand. First edition.This work comprises a grammar, dialogues, fables and a vocabulary with parallel texts in English and Khondi. It is the first of its kind to use Roman characters to express the language in writing. The Khondi (or Kui) language is a South-Central Dravidian language spoken by the Khonds, hunter-gatherers living mainly in Odisha (Orissa). John MacDonald Smith was a major on the Madras Staff Corps and appointed special assistant of the Governor of Fort St. George at Gamjam in Orissa.

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Book number: 120641

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, indian, inde, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, language, langue, linguistic, khond, khondi, imprint,

SORENSEN, S.:

Om sanskrits stilling i den almindelige sprogudvikling i Indien. Köbenhavn, Bianco Lunos (F. Dreyer) 1894.

. 4to. Pp. (iv), 155-318. Treats the development and postition of the Sanskrit language. Contains a French summary. Included as "D.Kgl. Danske Vidensk Selsk. Skr., 6 Raekke, historisk og filosofisk Afd. iii. 3".

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Book number: 99309

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, sanskrit, language, langue, lingusitic

STANHOPE, LEICESTER FITZGERALD CHARLES:

Sketch of the History and Influence of the Press in British India; Containing Remarks on the Effects of a Free Press on Subsidiary Alliances, on the Delays of Office; on Superstition; on the Administration of Justice; on Flogging; and on Agriculture. Also, on the Dangers of a Free Press, and the Licentiousness of a Censorship. London, published by C. Chapple, Royal Library, Pall Mall, 1823.

. Pp. viii, 194. A tiny hole in the last leaf. Modern quarter calf on marbled paper boards, spine gilt in compartments and with title label, g.e. First edition, seems very rare. "In the foregoing pages, I have attempted to give an impartial sketch of the history of public writings in India. I have also endeavoured to prove from facts, that the diffusion of knowledge, through the medium of education and a Free Press, must rapidly improve the condition of society there, and in the surrounding world" (Conclusion: p. 193). Stanhope (1784-1862) was an army officer who in 1817 was appointed Deputy Quartermaster-General in India.

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Book number: 100575

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, inde, indian, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, travel, exploration, press, british india,

TAGORE, RABINDRANATH:

The Gardener. Translated by the author from the original Bengali. London, Macmillian and Co., 1913.

. Pp. (viii), 150, (2) adv. With front portrait of Tagore at the age of 16. Original blue cloth, lettered in gilt, with some minor wear. A card with Tagore's signature loosely inlaid. A few pages with small stain and some browning to the paper along edges, as usual. Tiny repair at very top of a few pages. First edition in English. Dedicated to W.B. Yeats. The Gardener, originally written in Bengali, is a book of love poems. According to the preface by Tagore: "Most of the lyrics of love and life, the translations of which from Bengali are published in this book, were written much earlier than the series of religious poems contained in the book named Gitanjali. The translations are not always literal - the originals being sometimes abridged and sometimes paraphrased." Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 as the first Asian recipient. He has been considered to be the greatest writer in modern Indian literature.

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Book number: 121163

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, indian, inde, literature, poems, poem, bengali, asia, asie, asien, asiatic,

TAGORE, SOURINDRO MOHUN (Compiler):

Hindu Music from Various Authors. Part I. [For Private Circulation only]. Calcutta, Babu Punchanun Mekerjea, 1875.

. Pp. (xii), x, 315. With many illustrations. Contemporary red morocco, richly decorated in gilt, g.e., lightly rubbed. First edition. Comprises: "Treatise on the Music of Hindustan" by Captain N. Augustus Willard; "On the Musical Modes of the Hindus" By Sir William Jones; "On the Vina or Indian Lye" by Francis Fowke, etc. ; "The Oriental Music of Hindustan" by William C. Stafford; Music of the Hindus" by J. Nathan; Catalogue of Indian Musical Instruments" by Col. P.T. French; "Music of Ceylon" by John Davy, and more. A second part was issued in 1882 to accompany the second edition. Sourindo Mohun Tagore (1840-1914) was a famous Indian musicologist, having trained in his youth both Western and Indian classical traditions. He founded two institutions, the Bengal Music School in 1871 and the Bengal Academy of Music in 1882.

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Book number: 120933

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, inde, indian, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, music, ceylon, hindusrtan, musical,

TAGORE, RABINDRANATH:

The Parrot's Training. (Translated by the author from its original Bengali). Calcutta and Simla, Thacker & Spink & Co., 1918.

. 4to. Pp. (12). With eight full-page plates drawn by Abanindranath Tagore (nephew of Rabindranath Tagore). Some staining. Original pictorial paper wrappers designed by Nanda Lal Bose, one of Tagore's most famous pupils. Rare first English edition. The Bengali original "Tota Kahini" was published earlier the same year in the famous journal Sabujapatra. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), renowned Bengali poet, novelist, educator and composer has been considered to be the greatest writer in modern Indian literature. Tagore won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 as the first Asian recipient. This story is Tagore's famous satire on the futility of education through rote-learning from books - 'parrot-fashion' - then prevalent in India. He was a pioneer of creative education in India and started the school Patha Bhavana at Santiniketan in 1901 with a philosophy of learning close to the heart as opposed to the strict and repetitive learning system that was common during Tagore's childhood. The poem is a metaphorical story about a king who wants to teach a carefree parrot about traditions and customs, not understanding that they mean nothing to the parrot and that the parrot just wishes to be free. The humorous drawings are by Abanindranath Tagore, the founder of the Bengal School of Art.

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Book number: 120549

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, inde, indian, asia, asie, asien, asiatic, education, exploration, literature,

[SANSKRIT]. TARKALANKARA, CANDRAKANTA:

[Title in Sanskrit]. Udvaha candralokah. A treatise on the marriage rites of the Hindus. According to the Dharmahastras. Sherpur 1897.

. Pp. (viii), 186. Text in Sanskrit. Uncut copy in original printed wrappers, repaired and stained. Published by Sri Haracandra Caudhuri Vidyavinoda. The author was professor in Sanskrit at Calcutta.

Charlotte Du Rietz Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 28143

Catalogue: South Asia

Keywords: South Asia, india, sanskrit, indian, language, langue, linguistic, asia, asie, asien, asiatic