BROWNE, General Sir Samuel James VC GCB KCSI (1824-1901, compiler) - photo 1
BROWNE, General Sir Samuel James VC GCB KCSI (1824-1901, compiler) - photo 2
BROWNE, General Sir Samuel James VC GCB KCSI (1824-1901, compiler) - photo 3

BROWNE, General Sir Samuel James VC GCB KCSI (1824-1901, compiler)

Lot 106
10.12.2025 12:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1514372
Lot 106 | BROWNE, General Sir Samuel James VC GCB KCSI (1824-1901, compiler)
Estimate value
£ 6 000 – 8 000
BROWNE, General Sir Samuel James VC GCB KCSI (1824-1901, compiler)
'Papers on Frontier Politics. Russia and Kabul. 1877. 1878' [manuscript title on upper cover]. [Simla: Government Central Branch Press and Lahore: Government Civil Secretariat Press, 1877-1885.]
A rare collection of Indian Government papers relating to the Great Game, from the Library of General Sir Samuel Browne VC GCB, KCSI, documenting British military strategy, tactics and logistics on the Indian frontier around the time of the Second Afghan War. A prominent figure in the Indian Army and inventor of the eponymous Army leather belt, Browne commanded the Peshawar Field Force during the Second Afghan War. In the march on Kabul, Browne led his column of 16,000 troops and 48 guns to the Khyber Pass in November 1878, capturing the key fortress of Ali Masjid at the head of the pass, then proceeding through the pass to capture Jalalabad. For this action Browne was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He was promoted to general in 1888 and retired in 1898 aged 74.

These twenty-six Indian Government confidential and other memoranda and reports relating to Indian Frontier Politics, 1877-1885, include a 9-page confidential report by Fred Roberts, 'What are Russia's Vulnerable Points? And how have recent events affected our Afghan Frontier policy?' (22nd May 1885) and a 4-page confidential report by C.H. Brownlow, 'The War in Affghanistan' (5th July 1880). (Long repaired tear affecting one text leaf). These documents were printed in small numbers, usually of no more than 100 copies and with an average print run of around 55 copies.

26 works bound in one volume, folio (314 x 192mm). Contemporary dark red half roan over marbled boards, manuscript title label on upper board, red-speckled edges (lightly rubbed, short splits on hinges). Provenance: Government of India (official blind stamps to some memoranda) – General Sir Samuel James Browne VC, GCB, KCSI (1824-1901; ownership inscriptions on some memoranda, others inscribed to 'the Hon'ble Lieut.-General Sir S.J. Browne ... with the compliments of the Foreign Secretary'; Browne's manuscript annotations in ink and pencil throughout the volume) – Christie’s, Exploration and Travel: Asia including China Trade Paintings, 13 July 2006, lot 45.
Place of origin:India, Asia
Auction house category:Books and manuscripts, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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10.12.2025 – 10.12.2025
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