English: Old Hindu Temple, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. India. 1850 or 1851, 19th century.

Views in the Himalayas, drawn on the spot by Mrs. W. L. L. Scott. [Lithographed.]

London: published by Henry Graves & Co., to be sold by Allen & Co. of London and Ostell & Lepage of Calcutta, 1852.

This sketch shows the first of the temples seen in the mountains, situated in a valley of "noble cedars" about two miles from Simla and about half a mile from the first of 13 waterfalls "by which the mountain torrent that flows through the valley of Simla falls into the plains".

Letterpress leaf of text printed in blue. Tinted lithographed title and 14 plates after Scott by T. Picken (title and 11 plates), W.L. Walton (2) and W. Simpson. (Title and plates with spotting, small repair to outer blank margin of title.) Later cloth, calf title label on upper cover (lightly soiled).

FIRST EDITION. Mrs. Scott, published her book in aid of the Lawrence Asylum for the orphans of British soldiers near Simla. She had been "informed that the Governor-General, and some other parties, had expressed a wish for some correct views of Scenes in the Himalayas familiar to the everyday traveller... With this object in view, [she had] commenced the undertaking with slight prospects of success; delicate health, limited hours, and the rainy season, materially interrupting the progress of the drawings, which required to be finished on the spot:....It pleased God to aid [her] most signally in surmounting all difficulties..." (Archer and Lightbown India Observed). Abbey Travel 500.