Reminiscences of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition

London: William Clowes & Sons, 1886. First Edition. Thomas Riley. With sections on the individual states of Australia, promoting Victorian gold and wine, the minerals of Queensland and New South Wales, pearls from Western Australia, and the goats and merino sheep of South Australia. Also includes a study of the architecture of India, and with mentions of 16th century Maltese armour from the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, silk weavers from Cyprus, Chinese embroidery from Hong Kong, tea from Ceylon... The diamond exhibition in the African court was said to be the most popular.

"It is hoped that this volume of Reminiscences may prove acceptable to four classes of persons: firstly, to those living in Great Britain and Ireland who take an interest in the progress made by their brethren beyond the seas; secondly, to those who, coming from India and the Colonies to participate in the imperial gathering and to judge for themselves of the results of colonial labour and enterprise, may wish to take home with them a souvenir of their visit; thirdly, to those in the Colonies and India who have heard of the exhibition and who, perhaps, played their part in its organisation, and have yet been unable to visit it; and fourthly, to foreigners who, together with British subjects, have now for the first time had an opportunity of becoming fully acquainted with the exhaustive and varied resources of the British Empire."

- Preface, Frank Cundall. Quarto, bound in decorative boards with bevelled edges, all edges gilt, decorated 'cor unum via una' endpapers, 116 pages, fading to spine and mild wear to corners, a very good copy.