A Descriptive Account of Asam: with a Sketch of the Local Geography, and a Concise History of the Tea-Plant of Asam: to which is added, a Short Account of the Neighbouring Tribes, exhibiting their History, Manners, and Customs.
Author: Robinson, William
Year: 1841
Edition: First edition
Publisher: Ostell and Lepage
Blue cloth slipcase containing the text volume, 8vo., pp. xv, 421 and a custom made solander box containing four maps, neatly laid on archival tissue verso with linen tape-supports along folds. Both the text volume and the solander box bound in matching blue morocco gilt. The spines divided in six compartments by five raised, gilt bands with the titles in the second and third compartments. The other compartments richly decorated in gilt.
The text volume deals with such matters as the climate of Assam, its natural geography, botany and zoology. There is an ample description of the teaplant, its history and its civil and social state. The various tribes in this region are described, such as the Butias (Buthanese), Akas, the Naga tribes, etc. etc.
Robinson documented several hill tribes and communities and wrote detailed accounts about their social – and sometimes religious lives.
Of course he describes the upcoming tea industry. Till then (c. 1840) the Chinese had a monopoly on tea production. By cultivating the Camellia assamica, the local teaplant of Assam, and industrialising the tea production, the British eventually broke this Chinese monopoly.
Of the four maps one map is a general map of Assam, the other three maps cover the Zilla of Kamroop, the Zilla of Durrung and Nowgong. The maps are hand-coloured in outline. The sizes in millimeters (HxW) are as follows:
Zilla of Kamroop : 600 x 800
Durrunc and Nowconc : 525 x 710
Map of Central Asam : 505 x 1015
General map of Asam : 470 x 610
Apart from this one we have been unable to track another copy of this work auctioned after 1975. WorldCat brings up only twelve copies of this first edition worldwide in institutional libraries, while at least the Central Archaeological Library (CAL) in New Delhi should have a copy as well.
Biblio: Cordier, Indosinica 518, Yakushi (1994) R267.
Acquired from Dominic Winter, their sale 7 October 2020, lot nr. 110.
