Essays on Indian Antiquities, Historic, Numismatic, and Palaeographic
To Which are Added Tables, Illustrative of Indian History, Chronology, Modern Coinages, Weights, Measures, etc.

A two-volume collection of essays (1858) by a great antiquary, artist, orientalist and key figure in the history of Benares (Varanasi).

James Prinsep (Author), Edward Thomas (Edited by)

9781108055949, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 February 2013

620 pages, 19 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.5 cm, 0.78 kg

A key figure in the history of Benares (Varanasi), James Prinsep (1799–1840) was instrumental in expanding Western knowledge of Indian civilisation. After briefly studying under Pugin, he became an assay master in Calcutta in 1819, and soon moved to Benares. His talents were many, and within a few years he had completed a detailed map of the city, designed a new mint, engineered a system to improve sanitation and begun studying the inscriptions and coins that helped him to decipher two ancient scripts and to establish the dates of Indian dynasties. Collected in 1858 and edited by the numismatist Edward Thomas (1813–86), these essays are generously illustrated, often in Prinsep's hand, and display the enormous breadth of his knowledge. Volume 2 includes essays on coins and philology, with the extensive tables and lists of historical weights and measures, and explanations of Indian chronology.

17. Application of the early Bhilsa alphabet to the Buddhist group of coins
18. Résumé of Indian Pali alphabets
19. Examination of the Sah inscription from Girnar in Gujarat
20. On the application of a new method of block printing, with notices of inedited coins
21. Additions to Bactrian numismatics, and determination of Bactrian alphabet
Useful tables, illustrative of the coins, weights, and measures of British India
Addenda
General index.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]