Page 80 - Heirloom Collectibles Antiques & Silver

Plates from the Lot No. 53
presented lot ORIENTAL FIELD SPORTS
(A COMPLETE, DETAILED, AND
ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE
WILD SPORTS OF THE EAST)
By Captain Thomas Williamson,
Samuel Howett

Publisher: Edward Orme,
Print Seller to His Majesty, London
Year: 1807
Plates: 40
Size: 17 x 21 x 1.5 in (43.2 x 53.3 x 3.8 cm)
The book is presented in a long oblong folio format,
bound in half red calf leather with cloth-covered
boards in matching red. The spine is elegantly
gilt-decorated with compartments
A plate from the presented lot
` 12,00,000 - 15,00,000 | $ 14,815 - 18,519

Provenance: Property from a collection based
in New Delhi

Oriental Field Sports is a magnificent
depiction of the wild sports and natural
history of India in the early 19th century.
The book, authored by Captain Thomas
Williamson, provides a vivid and detailed
account of the sporting exploits of British
officers in India, featuring scenes of
hunting elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses,
and other undomesticated animals.
Captain Williamson, an accomplished
amateur artist, created a collection of
sketches that captured the excitement
and danger of these pursuits. To
bring these scenes to life in print, he
collaborated with Samuel Howett, an
experienced engraver and sportsman.
Howett used Williamson’s drawings to
produce masterful aquatint plates. The
book not only documents the adventurous
pursuits of the British in India but also
became a medium to satisfy the British
public’s fascination with India, providing
insights into its wildlife and customs.