——-> An exceptional copy of this lithograph, drawn on the stone for the folio edition of “Voyages dans l’Inde” as printed by Auguste Bry. <——-
Lithograph. Plate nr. 20 from the folio edition of “Voyages dans l’Inde” by Alexis Soltykoff, published by Auguste Bry (Paris, 1849/1850). Whereas the two copies in the BL, and both the copy that appeared on auction at Bonhams (London, 14th November 2023, lot # 176) as well as the copy auctioned by Metayer-Mermoz (Nevers, France, 26th February 2025, lot # 11) have the imprint “20” on the top right side, this copy has the imprints “N°. 20” on the top left side and “Page 210” on the top right side, thus matching the imprints of this plate in “Lettres sur l’Inde”, published by Amyot (Paris, 1848).
So far we were unable to trace a copy with these same imprints. Both the copies in the BL and the two copies auctioned are tinted lithographs.
Most likely this plate is from the initial print run, already partly done by Auguste Bry in 1849 {1}, at a time it was considered an option to have it accompany ‘Lettres sur l’Inde’, as many large size, often folio, plate atlases were published in the middle of the 19th century to accompany text volume(s) printed on a smaller format. It is coloured by hand and heightened with gum arabic, so in view of its luxurious finishing it originally may have belonged to someone in the inner circle of prince Soltykoff.
The plate size is 495 x 667 mm. Ample margins. The plate has been reframed under museum glass, thus enabling examination outside its frame at the time. A small tear in the left margin, reinforced and not affecting the plate itself, and some very minor creasing at the left bottom margin, which has been flattened.
{1} The entry in the diaries of Giacomo Meyerbeer on December 14th, 1849 reads:
(The diaries of Giacomo Meyerbeer, Volume 2; London, Associated University Presses, 2001, p. 381.)
Friday 14 December. Intendant-General von Küstner from Berlin called on me.
Conference with Scribe about the plan for a new grand opera. Visit from Léon de
Wailly, who showed me the beautiful lithographs that Prince Soltikoff has published
of his Indian journey. In the evening worked further on the orchestral arrangement
of the organ part.
Although usually 1850 is given as date of publication for the folio edition of “Voyages dans l’Inde”, it seems highly unlikely that De Wailly showed Meyerbeer the lithographs as already published in “Lettres sur l’Inde” in 1848. So we must assume that he showed Meyerbeer (part of) the lithographs for the folio edition. As the two variants of the title page of the folio edition are undated, possibly all 36 plates were first published in book form in 1850 indeed.
Above: corner imprints. The top imprints differ from known copies as described here above, while the imprints at the bottom are identical to those prints.
Here below the same picture taken from “lettres sur l’Inde” (Paris, Amyot; 1848). The plate size is much smaller, viz. 100 x 133 mm, hence there is much less detail.
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