Antiquities Of India. Twelve Views From The Drawings Of Thomas Daniell R.A. & F.S.A. Engraved By Himself And William Daniell. Dedicated Respectfully To The Society Of Antiquaries Of London.

[Plates vol.:] T.pl., 24 pl. - [Text vol.:] [iv], 46p.

When this set was first published as a set of twelve plates in 1799-1800, Thomas Daniell had already published two sets entitled 'Oriental Scenery' (1795, 1797). He went on to publish a third volume of 'Oriental Scenery' (1801), his 'Hindoo Excavations In The Mountains Of Ellora' (1804), his 'Twenty-Four Landscapes, Views In Hindoostan' (1807) and the present extended version of the 'Antiquities' with twelve additional plates (all dated 1808). The title of the letter-press text accompanying the 'Twenty Four Landscapes', which reads, 'Twenty Four Landscapes (The Fourth Serie) Views In Hindoostan', indicates that the three volumes of 'Oriental Scenery' and the 'Twenty Four Landscapes, Views In Hindoostan' were intended to form one sequence; and the name 'Oriental Scenery' is often applied to the other two works also.

The publication date of October 15 1799 is carried on the title-plate of the volume of plates; but each numbered plate carries its own publication-date: 1799 October 15 (pl. 1, 2), December 1 (pl. 3, 4); 1800 January 15 (pl. 5, 6). March 1 (7, 8), April 15 (9, 10), June 1 (11, 12); 1808 December 1 (pl. 13-24).

A slightly different title and publication-date appear on the title-page of the accompanying letter-press booklet: 'Antiquities Of India. Twelve Views From the Drawings Of Thomas Daniell, R.A. & F.S.A. Engraved By Himself, And William Daniell. Taken In The Years 1790 and 1793. Dedicated Respectfully To The Society Of Antiquaries Of London. London, Oct. 15, 1799. Printed By T. Bensley, Bolt Court Fleet Street. 1800.'

When plates XIII-XXIV were published in 1808, the original letter-press text was also expanded, but neither the original title-plate nor the original title-page was changed. The letter-press text carries the colophon of Bensley after the description of Plate XII, followed by the descriptions of plates XIII-XXIV with continuous pagination and a second colophon of Bensley.

The numbered plates are captioned, and show: I. Sculptured Rocks, At Mavalipuram, On The Coast Of Coromandel; II. The Entrance Of An Excavated Hindoo Temple, At Mavalipuram; III. An Excavated Temple On The Island Of Salsette; IV. Portico Of An Exacavated Temple On The Island Of Salsette; V. An Hindoo Temple, At Deo, In Bahar; VI. Part Of The Interior Of An Hindoo Temple, At Deo, In Bahar; VII. The Entrance To The Elephanta Cave; VIII. Part Of The Interior Of The Elephanta; IX. S.W. View Of The Fakeer's Rock In The River ganges, Near Sultaungunge; X. S.E. View Of The Fakeer's Rock In The River Ganges, Near Sultaungunge; XI. Part Of The Kanaree Caves, Salsette; XII. The Interior Of An Excavated Hindoo Temple, On The Island Of Salsette; XIII. The Temple Of Mandeswara Near Chaynpore, Bahar; XIV. An Antique Reservoir Near Colar, In The Mysore; XV. Exterior Of An Eed-Gâh Near Chaynpore, Bahar; XVI. Interior Of A Temple, Near Muddunpore; XVII. View Near Bangalore; XVIII. Entrance To A Hindoo Temple, Near Bangalore; XIX. The Observatory At Delhi; XX. The Observatory At Delhi; XXI. A Pavilion, Belonging To An Hindoo Temple; XXII. Interior Of The Temple Of Mandeswara Near Chaynpore, Bahar; XXIII. A Minar At Gour; XXIV. The Cuttub Minar, Near Delhi.

The plates are all hand-coloured aquatints.

Some of the original drawings for this work are held by the Royal Institute of British Architects, London.