PBA Galleries

8 volumes, comprising 4 large portfolios of plates, each with accompanying text volume. Portfolios are 52x41 cm (20½x16¼"), gilt-lettered cloth with vignettes, ribbon ties; text volumes are 32x25 cm (12½x10"),  gilt-stamped cloth, jackets with pictorial cover labels..

Superb examination of the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India, comprising about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE. The caves include paintings and rock cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art. The Archaeological Department of the Government of the Nizam of Hyderabad restored the Ajanta paintings in the 1920's, and commissioned E.L. Vassey to photograph them. His photographs form the basis of this monumental production. Because this was published over a period of 25 years, complete sets such as this one are uncommon. The first three with imprint "Published under the Special Authority of His Exalted Highness the Nizam"; last with imprint "Published under the Authority of the Government of Hyderabad." Text volumes with ownership rubberstamps of B.C. Secar on front endpapers.

Text volume I: xix, [1], 55 pp. Folding map. 1930.

Portfolio I: 7 pp. text + plan + 40 plates (16 color, 24 monochrome). 1930.

Text volume II: vii, [1], 70 pp. 8 plates & 12 illustrations in the text. 1933.

Portfolio II: 7 pp. text + plan + 49 plates (18 color, 31 monochrome) 1933.

Text volume III: viii, 100 pp. 9 plates. 1946.

Porfolio III: 7 pp. text + 64 plates (17 color, 57 monochrome). 1946.

Text volume IV: viii, 130 pp. 5 plates, a few illustrations in the text. 1955.

Portfolio IV: 13 pp. text + 82 plates (17 color, 65 monochrome). 1955.