INDIAN STATES. A monumental volume recording many of the States of India around the time of the Royal Visit of HRH Edward, Prince of Wales in 1921-22

Playne, Somerset [compiler assisted by R.V. Solomon and J. W. Bond, edited by Arnold Wright]: INDIAN STATES. A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative survey. The Foreign and Colonial Compiling and Publishing Co. [London] 1921-1922. 1st edition thus, 4to [12 x 9¾ ins]

835pp [although pages 605-610 dealing with The State of Panna are not bound in] profusely illustrated with hundreds of photographic illustrations throughout. Re-cased with modern boards with gilt titling [a decent Indian binding], stab sewn by the new binder, title page [illustrated] and following few pages have some worm damage which persists as a single worm hole in the outer margin for about the first 100 pages, the paper is otherwise in excellent clean condition. The whole work is well printed on art paper, the introductory pages within gilt rules. Each of the Princely States treated receives an historical and descriptive text and several photo illustrations, usually covering the current ruler, former rulers, the heir apparent, members of family, palaces, notable buildings, perhaps military forces, etc. this was the last in a series of works compiled by Playne covering the whole of the Indian Empire and the publishing in 1921/22 coincided with the last great Royal Visit to India – that of HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later, briefly, Edward VIII, and later still Duke of Windsor). The states covered, many of which are seldom recorded in pictorial works, comprise: Baroda, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Indore, Kolhapur, Udaipur, Bahawalpur, Bharatpur, Bundi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kotah, Patiala, Rewa, Tonk, Banswara, Datia, Dewas Senior and Junior, Dhar, Dngarpur, Idar, Jaisalmer, Khairpur, Kishangar, Partabgarh, Rampur, Rajpipla, Ratlam, Bhavnagar, Dhrangadhra, Jaora, Jind, Kapurthala, Nabha, Nawanagar, Panna, Radhanpur, Rajgarh, Sailana, Sirmoor, Sitamau, Tehri-Garwhal, Bansda, Chota-Udaipur, Danta, Cambay, Chamba, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Faridkot, Janjira, Jhabua, Maler Kotla, Mandi, Morvi, Dharampur, Limbdi, Lohanu, Lunawada, Mayurbh1anj, Mudhol, Palitana, Rajkot, Sangli, Savanivadi, Sunth, Wankaner, Wadhwan, Akalkot, Aundh, Ali-RAjpur, Balrampur RAj, Jamkandi, Jath, Kanker, Khichipur, Kurundvad, Nandgaon, Phaltan, Polo, Sakti. An interesting history and a marvellous reference work for anyone involved in Indian vintage photography or the study of princely India. A great reference work which sells in a good original binding for up to four times this price.  A very heavy book [3.8kg] which will require extra shipping charges.     jan29/2