Travel
[SIKHIM].
A tour in Sikhim, being the journal of five Calcutta tramps on their tour in Sikhim, Easter 1912.
For private circulation, Calcutta 1912. First (only) edition, 4to (27.2 x 21.5cm.), 72 mounted photographs (of various sizes) on 24 sheets of thick green paper, printed captions beneath, contemporary morocco, upper cover lettered in gilt, a few photographs chipped at corners with small loss, binding slightly rubbed at extremities, spine faded, covers slightly bowed.
A rare privately produced account of a tour in the northern Indian state of Sikkim, bordering Tibet and Nepal, during April 1912. The five men, described collectively in the work as the 'Tramps' comprised three Scots ('the Manager', 'the Fiend' and 'the Scribe') and two Englishmen ('Padre' and 'Geologist' or 'Geo'). The preface is initialled 'W.M.' (presumably 'the Scribe') and the work is dedicated to 'G.A.E. and J.B.' The tour began with a journey from Calcutta on the Eastern Bengal State Railway, then on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to Ghoom and then 17 miles by foot, exploring various villages and Buddhist monasteries in the eastern Himalayas. The account records: "It may seem incredible, but it is nevertheless fact, that twenty-three coolies, a cook, a bearer, a sweeper, a sardar and two syces were necessary for the comfort of the five sahibs"; there were also two ponies and a fox terrier. The photographs include views of landscapes, buildings (including guest houses and monasteries), native people, group shots etc. It is likely that only a handful of copies were printed. Not traced in any of the standard bibliographies.
Price: £ 6000
US Dollar Price: $ 11900
Stock Number: 69101