Travels in India, during the years 1780, 1781, 1782 & 1783 -William Hodges - 1793 1st edition

William Hodges’ early engraved views of India

Travels in India, during the years 1780, 1781, 1782 & 1783
-William Hodges, R.A.
-1st Edition - London: Printed for the author, 1793
-Quarto: Original calf boards, re-backed in late 20th Century calf
-Complete: vi,156, table of plates. 
-With 14 engraved plates and folding map of the Bengal and the Ganges 
-Generally very good condition. Bumps to corners and some scattered foxing internally. Small 2cm closed tear to map without loss.

William Hodges is best known for being the artist on James Cook’s second voyage (1772-1775). However, he was also commissioned by Warren Hastings to be the East India Company artist in India from 1779 to 1783, where he produced this work. The book includes a map of Bengal and the Lower Ganges River and 14 images of India, which include Calcutta, Agra, Lucknow; engravings of the people of India; and a Banyan tree. 
On his return, Hodges exhibited twenty-two views of India at the Royal Academy from 1785-1788, and also produced a lavish folio of Indian views which are desirable and scarce on the market today