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Miss Phyllis Bruce's Visit to the Delhi Durbar of 1903.
A wonderful first hand account of the 1903 Delhi Durbar with copious photographs and illustrations of the celebration and journey to reach it. Also included are numerous small pamphlets and tokens including the Order of Service of the Durbar and original ticket, ticket to the Ball at Diwan-i-Am, and the programme of the Coronation Football Tournament.
Miss Phyllis Bruce, accompanied by her mother, left England on 5 December 1902 aboard the S.S. Arabia for the Delhi Durbar of 1903, the celebration of the succession of King Edward VII as Emperor of India. The Durbar, organised by Lord Curzon, was the most magnificent of the three held in India and the passenger list reflects this: Lord Elphinstone, The Grand Duke of Hesse, and Countess Loewenstein to name but three.
Miss Bruce's narrative is refreshingly amusing and perceptive throughout. After initial seasickness, leaving her 'limpet like all day', Miss Bruce was soon enjoying the entertainment of a conjuror who 'performed with chickens, which he called "canary", addressing the Duke & Duchess of Portland'. It was her befriending of E.T. Reed, of 'Prehistoric Peeps' in Punch, which likely encouraged the numerous photographs and watercolours which festoon the rest of the album. After arriving in Bombay, and on their way to Delhi, Miss Bruce reveals a particular interest in both the local tradesmen, providing photographs of Hindu sweet sellers and Bhisti water carriers.
On 29 December Miss Bruce and her mother witness the State Entry of the Viceroy, 'on elephants, an unprecedented sight', for which she provides a series of photographs. After securing tickets for both the Durbar and the State Ball (present), they took their 'superior seats in Block A' on New Year's Day and marvelled at the arrival of 'the Rajahs in silver carriages & beautiful jewels.' Miss Bruce describes the ceremony in great detail, providing both photographs and watercolours. The following days were filled with visits to the Indian Arts Exhibition (full of 'beautiful embroideries'), the Great Parade Service at the Polo Ground, the Ball at the Diwan-i-Am ('a gorgeous scene, the beautiful ball room, red sandstone'), and the 'Review of Native Chief Retainers…42,000 in all' with elephants in procession, Bikanir Camel Corps, and XI Bengal Lancers.
Miss Bruce's perspective feels fresh by virtue of her interest in the lives of the Indian tradespeople she encounters. Many of her photographs show working Indians: a silversmith, a sweeper, a water carrier, even a woman making chapattis. After the Durbar she and her mother toured other sights: the Qutb Minar, Agra and the Taj Mahal ('the tomb was not as brilliant as it should have been'), Lahore and its bazar ('wonderful sights, & an immense population'), and Sialkot and Jammu to see 'the snow capped hills in the distance & the town of Jammu with its golden domes & many quaint buildings which were most beautiful.'
An amusing and entertaining account of the Delhi Durbar from a young woman with an unexpectedly original take on both the pageantry of the Raj as well as the often unregarded lives of the local population.
Oblong folio (28 x 36 cm); containing 141 photographs (most original), 34 watercolours by the author, 10 postcards, and numerous other loose ephemera including the order of service and invitation tickets for the Delhi Durbar, 60 pages of manuscript text, leaves brittle with some fraying and several loose; original half black roan, green pebble boards, a little worn.
Miss Phyllis Bruce, accompanied by her mother, left England on 5 December 1902 aboard the S.S. Arabia for the Delhi Durbar of 1903, the celebration of the succession of King Edward VII as Emperor of India. The Durbar, organised by Lord Curzon, was the most magnificent of the three held in India and the passenger list reflects this: Lord Elphinstone, The Grand Duke of Hesse, and Countess Loewenstein to name but three.
Miss Bruce's narrative is refreshingly amusing and perceptive throughout. After initial seasickness, leaving her 'limpet like all day', Miss Bruce was soon enjoying the entertainment of a conjuror who 'performed with chickens, which he called "canary", addressing the Duke & Duchess of Portland'. It was her befriending of E.T. Reed, of 'Prehistoric Peeps' in Punch, which likely encouraged the numerous photographs and watercolours which festoon the rest of the album. After arriving in Bombay, and on their way to Delhi, Miss Bruce reveals a particular interest in both the local tradesmen, providing photographs of Hindu sweet sellers and Bhisti water carriers.
On 29 December Miss Bruce and her mother witness the State Entry of the Viceroy, 'on elephants, an unprecedented sight', for which she provides a series of photographs. After securing tickets for both the Durbar and the State Ball (present), they took their 'superior seats in Block A' on New Year's Day and marvelled at the arrival of 'the Rajahs in silver carriages & beautiful jewels.' Miss Bruce describes the ceremony in great detail, providing both photographs and watercolours. The following days were filled with visits to the Indian Arts Exhibition (full of 'beautiful embroideries'), the Great Parade Service at the Polo Ground, the Ball at the Diwan-i-Am ('a gorgeous scene, the beautiful ball room, red sandstone'), and the 'Review of Native Chief Retainers…42,000 in all' with elephants in procession, Bikanir Camel Corps, and XI Bengal Lancers.
Miss Bruce's perspective feels fresh by virtue of her interest in the lives of the Indian tradespeople she encounters. Many of her photographs show working Indians: a silversmith, a sweeper, a water carrier, even a woman making chapattis. After the Durbar she and her mother toured other sights: the Qutb Minar, Agra and the Taj Mahal ('the tomb was not as brilliant as it should have been'), Lahore and its bazar ('wonderful sights, & an immense population'), and Sialkot and Jammu to see 'the snow capped hills in the distance & the town of Jammu with its golden domes & many quaint buildings which were most beautiful.'
An amusing and entertaining account of the Delhi Durbar from a young woman with an unexpectedly original take on both the pageantry of the Raj as well as the often unregarded lives of the local population.
Oblong folio (28 x 36 cm); containing 141 photographs (most original), 34 watercolours by the author, 10 postcards, and numerous other loose ephemera including the order of service and invitation tickets for the Delhi Durbar, 60 pages of manuscript text, leaves brittle with some fraying and several loose; original half black roan, green pebble boards, a little worn.
$2,412.12
Original: $8,040.40
-70%Miss Phyllis Bruce's Visit to the Delhi Durbar of 1903.—
$8,040.40
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Description
A wonderful first hand account of the 1903 Delhi Durbar with copious photographs and illustrations of the celebration and journey to reach it. Also included are numerous small pamphlets and tokens including the Order of Service of the Durbar and original ticket, ticket to the Ball at Diwan-i-Am, and the programme of the Coronation Football Tournament.
Miss Phyllis Bruce, accompanied by her mother, left England on 5 December 1902 aboard the S.S. Arabia for the Delhi Durbar of 1903, the celebration of the succession of King Edward VII as Emperor of India. The Durbar, organised by Lord Curzon, was the most magnificent of the three held in India and the passenger list reflects this: Lord Elphinstone, The Grand Duke of Hesse, and Countess Loewenstein to name but three.
Miss Bruce's narrative is refreshingly amusing and perceptive throughout. After initial seasickness, leaving her 'limpet like all day', Miss Bruce was soon enjoying the entertainment of a conjuror who 'performed with chickens, which he called "canary", addressing the Duke & Duchess of Portland'. It was her befriending of E.T. Reed, of 'Prehistoric Peeps' in Punch, which likely encouraged the numerous photographs and watercolours which festoon the rest of the album. After arriving in Bombay, and on their way to Delhi, Miss Bruce reveals a particular interest in both the local tradesmen, providing photographs of Hindu sweet sellers and Bhisti water carriers.
On 29 December Miss Bruce and her mother witness the State Entry of the Viceroy, 'on elephants, an unprecedented sight', for which she provides a series of photographs. After securing tickets for both the Durbar and the State Ball (present), they took their 'superior seats in Block A' on New Year's Day and marvelled at the arrival of 'the Rajahs in silver carriages & beautiful jewels.' Miss Bruce describes the ceremony in great detail, providing both photographs and watercolours. The following days were filled with visits to the Indian Arts Exhibition (full of 'beautiful embroideries'), the Great Parade Service at the Polo Ground, the Ball at the Diwan-i-Am ('a gorgeous scene, the beautiful ball room, red sandstone'), and the 'Review of Native Chief Retainers…42,000 in all' with elephants in procession, Bikanir Camel Corps, and XI Bengal Lancers.
Miss Bruce's perspective feels fresh by virtue of her interest in the lives of the Indian tradespeople she encounters. Many of her photographs show working Indians: a silversmith, a sweeper, a water carrier, even a woman making chapattis. After the Durbar she and her mother toured other sights: the Qutb Minar, Agra and the Taj Mahal ('the tomb was not as brilliant as it should have been'), Lahore and its bazar ('wonderful sights, & an immense population'), and Sialkot and Jammu to see 'the snow capped hills in the distance & the town of Jammu with its golden domes & many quaint buildings which were most beautiful.'
An amusing and entertaining account of the Delhi Durbar from a young woman with an unexpectedly original take on both the pageantry of the Raj as well as the often unregarded lives of the local population.
Oblong folio (28 x 36 cm); containing 141 photographs (most original), 34 watercolours by the author, 10 postcards, and numerous other loose ephemera including the order of service and invitation tickets for the Delhi Durbar, 60 pages of manuscript text, leaves brittle with some fraying and several loose; original half black roan, green pebble boards, a little worn.
Miss Phyllis Bruce, accompanied by her mother, left England on 5 December 1902 aboard the S.S. Arabia for the Delhi Durbar of 1903, the celebration of the succession of King Edward VII as Emperor of India. The Durbar, organised by Lord Curzon, was the most magnificent of the three held in India and the passenger list reflects this: Lord Elphinstone, The Grand Duke of Hesse, and Countess Loewenstein to name but three.
Miss Bruce's narrative is refreshingly amusing and perceptive throughout. After initial seasickness, leaving her 'limpet like all day', Miss Bruce was soon enjoying the entertainment of a conjuror who 'performed with chickens, which he called "canary", addressing the Duke & Duchess of Portland'. It was her befriending of E.T. Reed, of 'Prehistoric Peeps' in Punch, which likely encouraged the numerous photographs and watercolours which festoon the rest of the album. After arriving in Bombay, and on their way to Delhi, Miss Bruce reveals a particular interest in both the local tradesmen, providing photographs of Hindu sweet sellers and Bhisti water carriers.
On 29 December Miss Bruce and her mother witness the State Entry of the Viceroy, 'on elephants, an unprecedented sight', for which she provides a series of photographs. After securing tickets for both the Durbar and the State Ball (present), they took their 'superior seats in Block A' on New Year's Day and marvelled at the arrival of 'the Rajahs in silver carriages & beautiful jewels.' Miss Bruce describes the ceremony in great detail, providing both photographs and watercolours. The following days were filled with visits to the Indian Arts Exhibition (full of 'beautiful embroideries'), the Great Parade Service at the Polo Ground, the Ball at the Diwan-i-Am ('a gorgeous scene, the beautiful ball room, red sandstone'), and the 'Review of Native Chief Retainers…42,000 in all' with elephants in procession, Bikanir Camel Corps, and XI Bengal Lancers.
Miss Bruce's perspective feels fresh by virtue of her interest in the lives of the Indian tradespeople she encounters. Many of her photographs show working Indians: a silversmith, a sweeper, a water carrier, even a woman making chapattis. After the Durbar she and her mother toured other sights: the Qutb Minar, Agra and the Taj Mahal ('the tomb was not as brilliant as it should have been'), Lahore and its bazar ('wonderful sights, & an immense population'), and Sialkot and Jammu to see 'the snow capped hills in the distance & the town of Jammu with its golden domes & many quaint buildings which were most beautiful.'
An amusing and entertaining account of the Delhi Durbar from a young woman with an unexpectedly original take on both the pageantry of the Raj as well as the often unregarded lives of the local population.
Oblong folio (28 x 36 cm); containing 141 photographs (most original), 34 watercolours by the author, 10 postcards, and numerous other loose ephemera including the order of service and invitation tickets for the Delhi Durbar, 60 pages of manuscript text, leaves brittle with some fraying and several loose; original half black roan, green pebble boards, a little worn.
