The history of Hindostan, its arts, and its sciences, as connected with the history of the other great empires of Asia, during the most ancient periods of the world. 2nd edition.

London, printed by W. Bulmer and W. Nicol, 1820.3 volumes in 2. 4to. Contemporary half calf, spines gilt (hinges sl. dam.). With 16 engraved plates (2 folding). 522; 303,337 pp.First edition published in London in 1795. - Thomas Maurice (1754-1824) published numerous works on the religion of India. After he had completed his extensive 'Indian Antiquities' he traced Indian history back to its classical origins. Volume I mainly gives ancient astronomical details from the Hindoo, Hebraic, Phoenician, Egyptian and Greek systems, covering the period between the creation and the flood. Volume II contains the Sanskrit and classical history of India. The imaginative curious plates are showing the Indian Deitees (incarnations of Veeshnu, Creeshna etc.) but also the ancient zodiac from Egypt, oriental zodiac, the 28 Hindoo lunar mansions. The plates are mainly facsimiles of the mythological designs and as Maurice says in his advertisement 'Absurd as some of them may appear to an European eye, it appeared still more absurd attempt to make any alterations in them'. - (Some staining).Cox I, 306.