The Balla Hissar and City of Caubul, from the Upper Part of the
Citadel. From Sketches in Afghaunistan.
By James Atkinson (1780-1852). Published by Longman, Brown, Green & Longman,
Henry Graves & Company and W.H. Allen, London, 1 July 1842.
The Balla Hissar is a walled section of the city of Caubul with
only two gates, both closed at night.The garden on the right, occupied
by the British Envoy was formerly the residence of Dost Mahommed Khan.
Behind is the Harem Serai, residence of Shah Shahee. To the left of
the Shah's residence lies the Musjid Shahee or Royal Mosque founded
in the time of Alumgeer.
James Atkinson was a doctor, journalist and artist during the Afghan
Campaign. In 1833 he became surgeon to the 55th Native Infantry, serving
in Kabul between 1838 and 1841. He received drawing lessons from the
artist George Chinnery before travelling in Afghanistan, then a little-known
country. Watercolour drawings were made 'on the spot' by him as he
travelled through Afghanistan and subsequently lithographs based on
them were made by Charles and Louis Haghe. They were published in London
in 1842. 16 of the original drawings for Sketches in Afghaunistan are
in the India Office Library.
Abbey Travel 508 no.21. J.R. Abbey, Travel in aquatint and lithography
1770-1860 from the library of J.R. Abbey: a bibliographical catalogue.
London, 1957.
Tinted lithograph after James Atkinson with fine later hand-colour
and wide margins. An uncommon lithograph from one of the most famous
illustrated works on Afghanistan. Approx. 360 x 520mm. (14 x 20ins).
PR000018 £525 |
