Search Results: South Asia / India from Orchid Press

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. This classed bibliography provides citations to all aspects of the hand crafted textile traditions of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Topics include bibliographies and reference material, textile glossaries, museum, gallery and private collection publications, broad treatments of textiles, histories, accounts of the textiles of particular groups or made by various communities, religious textiles, techniques, fibers and clothing. 390 pp., 3,900 entries, geographic and personal name indices. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/New. 21.5 x 15.2 cm.

Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1988. The former kingdom of Ladakh, in the Indian Himalaya, has attracted special interest among scholars and inspired hundreds of publications because it is one of the last regions in the world where traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture survives. This is the first bibliography to be published dealing solely with Ladakh, and includes material published in both Western and Asian languages. Entries arranged in alphabetical order of author's surname. Book block printed by Aris & Phillips; bound by Orchid Press in gold stamped dark brown cloth. 156 pp., over 1,100 entries, index by subject.. First Edition. Cloth. Fine. 22 x 15 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1987. Centuries old monuments in this barren but stunningly beautiful high altitude region bear witness to a rich but turbulent past.This book records 40 of the main Buddhist sanctuaries of Ladakh in coloured photographs, meticulously drawn plans and brief textual descriptions. Appendices address the Lamaistic pantheon, the Tibetan calendar and the affiliation of various monasteries with different Lama sects. With a preface by Maurice Herzog, and glossary of relevant terms and symbols. An indispensible guide for interested visitors and a valuable reference work on the monasteries and Buddhist sanctuaries of the region. vii, 134 pp. 63 colour and 39 b&w illustrations, one map. Cover lightly soiled from long storage, but interior still clean and bright (NOS).. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good/NOS - cover lightly soiled. 21 x 19 cm..

Bangkok: White Orchid Press, 1998. A comparison between the seemingly incomparable cultures of Hinduism and Western style Capitalism, juxtaposing the belief systems, ideas and values that comprise the two systems. 204 pp., bibliography, index. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/new. 21.5 x 15.2 cm.

Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1980. Ladakh existed as an independent kingdom until 1834 when it became an integral part of India. It has, however, remained one of the few regions in which Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Tibetan way of life continue to flourish. Professor Snellgrove and Tadeusz Skorupski were the first western scholars to visit Ladakh in 1974, shortly after a long ban on access was lifted, staying there through the hard winter months when the passes are blocked and when the religious life of Ladakh is especially active. This important study focuses on the monasteries of Zangskar and the cave temples of Ladakh. The Zangskar monasteries include Sumda, which is a contemporary foundation to Alchi; Sani, with its Kanika Choten; Karsha and Dzongkhul. Many of the monasteries of Central Ladakh were built upon the sites of caves where famous yogins and lamas had meditated, but the best preserved and most interesting murals are near Saspol. All these important sites are described and… Read More

Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1979. Ladakh existed as an independent kingdom until 1834 when it became an integral part of India. It has, however, remained one of the few regions in which Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Tibetan way of life continue to flourish. Professor Snellgrove and Tadeusz Skorupski were the first western scholars to visit Ladakh in 1974, shortly after a long ban on access was lifted, staying there through the hard winter months when the passes are blocked and when the religious life of Ladakh is especially active. This highly illustrated study presents new material on the history of Ladakh culture and religion, focussing on their rich traditions of art and culture. Despite the passage of so many warring and marauding armies in the past, Ladakh still preserves important traces of that early Tibetan Buddhist period when purely Indian influences were predominant. The 11th century monastery of Alchi, which has remained practically intact is studied in great detail in this… Read More

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998. Subtitled 'Or the Ingredients of Social Life at "Our Station" in India'. A light hearted account of life in India, with 40 delightful vignettes, including 'Our Colonel', 'Our Padre', 'Our Magistrate's Wife', 'Our Racecourse', 'Our Bazar', 'Our Agriculturists' and "Our Nuwab'. Each is accompanied by a watercolour illustration. The Colonial Library of Dignified Irreverence reprint of 1911 edition. 160 pp., 39 colour sketches, gilt edges. Fifth Edition. Decorative Cloth. As New. 24 x 18.5 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1986. Reprint of the 1880 first, and now very rare, edition of this grand compendium of the archaic and traditional weaponry of South and Southeast Asia, Text includes an overview of the military history of India from prehistoric times (ca 2000 BC) to the 19th century. Catalogue section illustrates and provides detailed descriptions for some 816 different implements of war, including swords, daggers, kris, bows and arrows, spears, battle-axes, maces, as well as various types of armour and firearms. Spine sunned, bottom of rear cover scuffed with small loss of surface. Interior clean/unread. 162 pp., 2 colour plates, 48 b&w plates and figures, 6 of which are fold-out, one fold-out colour map, index;.. Soft Cover. Very Good. 26 x 19 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2015. Autobiography of the last absolute ruler of the Swat Valley, as recorded by Fredrik Barth. When he was born in 1908, the Swat Valley formed a complex but stateless society of several hundred thousand members, linked to the archaic cosmopolitanism of Inner Asia, but hardly touched by centuries of external influence. Indeed, the Swat Valley had never even been seen by an Englishman until 13 years before the Wali's birth. During his childhood, his father emerged as the creator and ruler of a new state in this tribal territory. Assuming the role of ruler, himself, on his father's death, the Wali oversaw a period of tumultuous change, culminating in a peaceful transfer of his power to Pakistan in 1969. 200 pp., 18 b&w plates, 2 maps. Reprint. Soft Cover. As New. 21.5 x 14.5 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. This is the first study of the tradition of weaving among the nomadic pastoralists of Rupshu, in eastern Ladakh. Weaving touches all aspects of life in Rupshu, where both women and men weave, each on a different loom. Local narrative states that the craft of weaving was bestowed upon Rupshu by the gods, and thus all activities related to it have a close connection to the sublime. This book documents and analyses the ways in which fibres, weaving, and textiles are symbolised, constructed, and experienced in Rupshu where themes such as gender, kinship, hierarchical and spatial relations find ready expression through the design and making of cloth. Through her work the author traces the relationship between livestock, weaving, social and symbolic structures in order to understand the multitude of contexts within which wool-oriented activities exist. Richly illustrated, this book will appeal to those with an interest in textiles, nomads, gender studies, and the Himalaya. 192… Read More

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. FIRST NEW BURTON 'FIRST EDITION' TO BE PUBLISHED IN OVER 100 YEARS. Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890), perhaps the greatest of the soldier-scholars spawned by British colonial expansion of the early 19th century, translated works in six different languages and mastered at least 24, among these some of the more difficult tongues in the world. Burton was responsible for introducing many great literary masterpieces of the Oriental world to the West, including The Arabian Nights, the Perfumed Garden, and the Kama Sutra among others. Ironically, his first translation, the present, is the last to be published. Many of the tales in Pilpay's Fables are very old, dating to written texts with origins perhaps as ancient as 200 BC and possibly to even earlier oral traditions. Each tale, acted out by a cast of animals and people, are intended to illustrate an important lesson in life, often one that evolves from the protagonists' various misfortunes. Burton… Read More

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. FIRST NEW BURTON 'FIRST EDITION' TO BE PUBLISHED IN OVER 100 YEARS. Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890), perhaps the greatest of the soldier-scholars spawned by British colonial expansion of the early 19th century, translated works in six different languages and mastered at least 24, among these some of the more difficult tongues in the world. Burton was responsible for introducing many great literary masterpieces of the Oriental world to the West, including The Arabian Nights, the Perfumed Garden, and the Kama Sutra among others. Ironically, his first translation, the present, is the last to be published. Many of the tales in Pilpay's Fables are very old, dating to written texts with origins perhaps as ancient as 200 BC and possibly to even earlier oral traditions. Each tale, acted out by a cast of animals and people, are intended to illustrate an important lesson in life, often one that evolves from the protagonists' various misfortunes. Burton… Read More

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. In both magnitude and length of time the Princely States of India represented both the paradigm for, and acme of, the British imperial policy of Indirect Rule, whereunder the 'traditional' ruling classes were expected to assume the burden of administration. By Independence in 1947 the Government of India recognized nearly 600 entities varying from the size of the United Kingdom, to several that consisted of a single village within less than a square mile. In providing a carefully assembled chronology of the leaders of the 290 most significant of these states, the author makes available a new and valuable tool for all scholars of South Asia, as well as Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, in the colonial period. 230 pp., map, colour plate, index. A new/unread copy.. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/New. 21 x 15 cm..

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001. Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka is one of the five places where Gautama Buddha left the trace of his foot, but it is also an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, Hindus and some Christians. This book examines the Sinhala pilgrimage tradition both from Sinhala and non-Sinhala sources, and explains the cult of Saman, the white elephant, and its relation to Adam's Peak. The author takes us on a pilgrimage to the summit, with detailed descriptions of the route and his own experiences, and also records impressions of travellers from earlier times. Intended for the traveller who wants in-depth information before undertaking the journey, as well as interested readers and scholars. 192 pp., 27 colour and 14 b&w plates, 3 maps, glossary, bibliography, index. A new/unread copy.. First Edition. Soft Cover. As new. 23 x 12.7 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1984. Des monuments centenaires dans cette région aride, admirablement belle et montagneuse témoignent d'un passé riche et turbulent. Ce livre décrit la majeure partie des sanctuaires bouddhistes à l'aide de photos, de dessins très détaillés, et de brèves descriptions. C'est un guide indispensable pour les visiteurs, une base essentielle sur les monastères et les sanctuaires bouddhiques du Ladakh. Avec une preface de Maurice Herzog. vii, 134 pp., 63 planches en couleur, 39 dessins, un carte, couverture imprimée. Couverture salie et usée, mais pages intérieures propres et lumineuses.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good/NOS - cover soiled. 21 x 19 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998. The only work on ajrak, the renowned double printed cotton cloth of Sindh, Pakistan. Precisely describes the 20 laborious stages of production and identifies the craftsmen who still accurately practice this ancient tradition today. Sample of ajrak included on the cover cloth; 196 pp., 158 colour and over 80 monochrome plates, 24 pattern drawings, map, glossary, bibliography. Second, revised edition. Decorative Cloth. Fine/No Jacket. 25 x 24 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. Satirical sketches of Anglo-Indian society and some of its foibles. In the words of the author, 'These pictures are intended . . . for people in England who may wish to know how Indian exile acts upon English men and women.' The Colonial Library of Dignified Irreverence reprint of 1880 Calcutta / London original. 315 pp., gilt edges. Decorative Cloth. As New. 17.5 x 12 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998. A tongue-in-cheek series of sketches of nineteenth-century colonial life in India, originally published in Vanity Fair and so popular that it ran to six editions. Delightfully irreverent! The Colonial Library of Dignified Irreverence reprint of 1896 6th edition. 252 pp., 13 b&w illustrations, gilt edges. Decorative Cloth. As New. 14 x 10.5 cm.