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Rangoon Views, and Combined Operations in the Birman Empire
London: Thos Clay, 1825. Item #06235
Moore and Marryat's Splendid Views of Rangoon
and Scenes of British Military Manœuvers in the Area
MOORE, Joseph, [Lieut., and Captain Frederick Marryat]. [Rangoon Views, and Combined Operations in the Birman Empire]. First and Second Series. London: Thos Clay, 1825-1826].
First edition. First Series with most of the plates in first state and plate numbers 7, 8 & 14 marked "Proof" and plate 22 (no. 4) marked "proof". Plate 16 is in the second state with the word "ajacent" in the caption corrected to "adjacent".
Oblong folio (12 1/2 x 16 5/8 inches; 316 x 423 mm.). Engraved vignette title,with a large mezzotint vignette after T. Stothard by J. Bromley and a line-and-stipple engraved dedication leaf with large vignette after Stothard by R.W. Smart. [2, subscribers (folding and mounted on a stub), verso blank], [6, list of subscribers (folding and mounted on stubs)]. With twenty-four fine hand-colored aquatint plates heightened with gum arabic, comprising First Series (numbered 1-18) after Joseph Moore by G. Hunt, T. Fielding, H. Pyall (Plate 16 in second state, with the word "adjacent" spelled correctly) and Second Series (numbered 1-6) after sketches by Frederick Marryat and Capt. Thornton, drawn by T. Stothard and others, engraved by H. Pyall. Plate 4 very slightly shorter (5/16 inch) at lower margin.
Near contemporary half maroon morocco over marbled boards, covers multi-ruled in gilt. Front cover with pictorial lithograph front wrapper of the first part laid on "Birman/Part I/Containing six views taken at and near/Rangoon./Empire". Smooth spine decoratively ruled in gilt, yellow coated endpapers, speckled edges. A superb copy with wonderful hand coloring.
A landmark visual record of the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26), this rare series of aquatint plates—drawn on the spot by Captain Joseph Moore—offers the most vivid and accurate depictions of the British incursion into Rangoon and its environs.
By the early 19th century, the British had consolidated control over much of India, and tensions escalated following Burmese encroachments on the Company’s northeastern frontier. In February 1824, the East India Company declared war, initiating a massive amphibious expedition that resulted in the largely unopposed capture of Rangoon. Although the city had been abandoned, fierce resistance and endemic disease led to staggering casualties on both sides—over 40,000 among British and Indian troops alone, with even greater losses suffered by the Burmese. The war culminated in a decisive British victory, leading to the cession of territory and the imposition of a heavy indemnity—an outcome that laid the groundwork for the full annexation of Burma by 1889.
Moore’s plates begin in May 1824, with British vessels preparing to depart from Port Cornwallis, Andaman Islands. Subsequent views document the landing at Rangoon, the assault on Burmese stockades and fortifications, riverine engagements, and the capture of a gilt Burmese war-boat. Interspersed among the military scenes are topographical depictions of Burmese landscapes and cultural landmarks, most notably the Shwedagon Pagoda (referred to here as the "Great Dagon Pagoda"), one of the most sacred sites in Burmese Buddhism.
There is bibliographical discussion regarding the presence of the word Proof on some plates: Sadleir distinguishes first and second issues of the 1825 edition on this basis; however, Abbey (Travel, no. 404) contends that these differences represent states, not issue points, and likely do not indicate chronological priority.
A visually powerful and historically significant work, Moore's Views in the Burman Empire remains the most important pictorial documentation of the First Burmese War and early British military involvement in Southeast Asia.
Abbey, Travel, 404; Bobins I, 299; Sadleir 1610; Tooley 334.
Price: $12,500.00