Joseph Moore | Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [with] Frederick Marryat. Six plates illustrative of the combined operations in the Birman Empire. London, [1825]–1826 - photo 1
Joseph Moore | Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [with] Frederick Marryat. Six plates illustrative of the combined operations in the Birman Empire. London, [1825]–1826 - photo 2
Joseph Moore | Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [with] Frederick Marryat. Six plates illustrative of the combined operations in the Birman Empire. London, [1825]–1826 - photo 3

Joseph Moore | Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [with] Frederick Marryat. Six plates illustrative of the combined operations in the Birman Empire. London, [1825]–1826

Lot 59
28.11.2023 14:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 7 620
AuctioneerSotheby´s
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1076582
Lot 59 | Joseph Moore | Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [with] Frederick Marryat. Six plates illustrative of the combined operations in the Birman Empire. London, [1825]–1826
Estimate value
£ 8 000 – 12 000
Lieutenant Joseph Moore

Eighteen views taken at & near Rangoon [bound with] Captain Frederick Marryat. Six plates illustrative of the combined operations in the Birman Empire. London: Thos. Clay, [1825]–1826

2 works bound in one volume, FIRST EDITION, folio (483 x 330mm.), engraved decorative title incorporating the dedication by R. W. Smart after Thomas Stothard, engraved “Subscribers” leaf with large mezzotint vignette by J. Bromley after Thomas Stothard, lithographic section title to the second series with vignette after Marryat, three leaves of lithographic facsimile reproducing manuscript subscribers list (two of these leaves folded), 24 FINE HAND-COLOURED AQUATINT PLATES by G. Hunt, H. Pyall, T. Fielding, and Reeve jnr., after J. Moore, F. Marryat, and Captn. Thornton, eight of the plates marked ‘proof’ in lower right margin (two in first series, and all six in second series), bound to style in reddish-brown straight-grain half morocco over boards with the original lithographed upper wrapper to series 1, part 1 inlaid on the upper cover and the original lithographed upper wrapper to series 1, parts 2/3, on the lower cover

An outstanding illustrated record of the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26), documenting key moments of the British invasion of Burma (present-day Myanmar) as well as the lush landscapes and impressive pagodas in and around Rangoon (present-day Yangon). In 1824, with Burma having lately expanded their borders into the northeast region of India (thus threatening the interests of the East India Company), the British responded by sending a naval force of more than 10,000 men to take control of the area.

The present series of images begins in May 1824, with the first plate showing British vessels preparing to set sail from the Harbour of Port Cornwallis on the Island of Andaman (off the northeast coast of India). This is followed by the British landing at Rangoon, the storming of various stockades and forts around the city, the capture of a Burman gilt war boat, and naval battles involving dozens of ships. Interspersed with these military spectacles are more traditional “scenic” views of the country’s landscape and pagodas — especially the Shwedagon Pagoda (called the “Great Dagon Pagoda” in the present work), the most sacred Buddhist site in the country and one of the first places occupied by the British when they arrived. The presence of idling British soldiers in the foreground of many of these scenes is a subtle reminder of the power dynamics at play.

The present works were originally published as two separate series. The present copy contains all 24 engravings, as well as the preliminary dedication leaf and subscriber leaf, and three lithographed leaves of subscribers in India (as called for by Abbey), plus a rare section title to the second series seemingly not mentioned the bibliographies. Two smaller text booklets were printed separately to accompany the series, but, as Tooley notes, “they are rarely present,” and each series can be considered complete in and of itself without the text.

While Sadlier distinguishes first and second issue points within the first edition based mainly on the presence of the word “Proof” on various plates, Abbey asserts that “it does not seem that the appearance or non-appearance of the word ‘Proof’ can be made into an issue point, and, in fact, it seems that all the plate differences must be described as states, not issues.”
Auction house category:Prints, graphics, books
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28.11.2023
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