GANTZ, John (1772-1853) - photo 1
GANTZ, John (1772-1853) - photo 2
GANTZ, John (1772-1853) - photo 3

GANTZ, John (1772-1853)

Lot 148
13.07.2023 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 16 380
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 992557
Lot 148 | GANTZ, John (1772-1853)
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 6 000
GANTZ, John (1772-1853)

Indian Microcosm. Madras: John Gantz & Son, [1827]

A very rare complete copy of this work, inspired by Ackermann's Microcosm of London. The 20 fine hand-coloured lithographic plates, illustrate Indian modes of transport, crafts, and occupations. John Gantz was a draughtsman and architect employed by the East India Company and had two sons, Justinian (b. 1802) and Julius (b. 1816). By 1827 he had set up the first lithographic press in Madras, one of the first such presses in India. Loosely inserted in this copy is the text in three parts for plates 1-12 (only, of 20); the text for plates 1-9 in a variant state from that bound in this copy, possibly an early state or proof. Preserved are the original lithographic upper wrappers for parts 1 and 3, with Part 1 title with spelling 'Micricosm' – the India Office Library copy has this corrected with a small pasted overslip. The text for plates 1-4 is printed on laid paper, the text for plates 5-12 on wove paper watermarked ‘1825’. Abbey, Travel 445; Bobins V, 1646.



Quarto (297 x 253mm; text: 260 x 195mm). 20 original hand-coloured lithographic plates on card mounts, nos. 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 15 with ‘Gantz & Son’ or variant, with small letterpress title pasted on the reverse and numbered by hand, 20 numbered leaves of letterpress tipped-in, watermarks [where visible] text ‘1825’ and mounts of plates ‘1827’, additional text loosely inserted, see note above (occasional light spotting, some dust-staining and light browning to mounts, slightly crease to text leaf ‘No. 10’). Contemporary half calf over marbled boards (neatly rebacked with calf gilt spine, extremities rubbed). Wrapper for part 5 bound as a title (no separate title was issued; the wrapper for part 1 was probably intended as the title for the work).



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Place of origin:India, Asia
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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13.07.2023
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