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'(Manuscript of Notes to accompany Map of Persia (published by R.G.S) and the introduction to Haji Baba written by G.N.C. for Macmillan in 1895)' [‎12r] (23/144)

The record is made up of 1 file (70 folios). It was created in 1895. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Notes to accom'pany the Map of Persia.
By Hon. G. Curzon, m.p.
A year and a quarter ago the Council of the Royal Geographical
Society consented, at my instance, and in continuation of a scheme
which they had sanctioned and (in the case of the map of Tibet) already
in part commenced, to order the execution of an entirely new map of
Persia. The reasons which induced them to take this step were, firstly,
the absence of anything like a reliable map of that country, embodying
the results either of recent travels by private individuals, or of the
more authoritative surveys conducted by emissaries of the British and
Russian Governments; secondly, the increasing interest that is felt in
the kingdom of the Shah, and the growing extent to which it is yearly
visited and explored by Englishmen; and thirdly, the command, of
which I was able to assure them, of as complete a collection as is pro
curable of the necessary materials. Influenced by these considerations,
the Council graciously acceded to my request, and placed in my hands
the execution of the proposal. Mr. W. T. Turner, f.b.g.s., whose
accurate and painstaking work has frequently appeared in the Society’s
‘Proceedings,* was specially retained to construct the map; and the
sheet to which these paragraphs stand in the relation of an explanatory
memorandum, is the result of our combined labours, which, if they are
often imperfect, and possibly sometimes—from the circumstances of the
case—inaccurate, have yet been conscientiously pursued, and with, I
would fain hope, a decided advance upon any previous map on the same
scale of the countries concerned.
The materials which I had collected, and of which a tabulated
catalogue will be appended, fall under four headings:—(1) Published
English maps, and, in the case of the sea-coast, Admiralty charts;
(2) similar Russian and German maps—of which the former, relating
principally to the regions bordering on their own dominions (the
Russian maps of the rest of Persia being as a rule very meagre and
inadequate), are the result for the most part of semi-official surveys;
while the latter are generally compilations from the most recent
materials, from whatsoever source derived; (3) maps constructed by,
or in the possession of the Intelligence Departments, both in London
and Simla, which have been most courteously placed at my disposal;
and (4) the surveys or itineraries of travellers, published either in
books or in the Proceedings of Geographical Societies, whether in
England or on the Continent.
As regards the preference assigned to this over that material,
surveys have of course invariably been preferred to reconnaissances,
and the more detailed to the less detailed or unscientific surveys ; later
material has naturally claimed a larger share of notice than earlier,
though cases have occurred where the labours of a remote explorer have
passed into quite undeserved oblivion, and have been found to contain
more minute and accurate information than the accepted commonplaces
of later maps. In the cases—how frequent I should hardly like to
confess—where our authorities have disagreed, the pros and cons have
not been lightly balanced before a decision was made.
The scale adopted is 60 miles to the inch, which is uniform with
that already applied to the Society’s large map of Tibet, still in course
of execution ; and which, while presenting a sheet rather larger than
Keith Johnston’s Atlas, can yet be folded into a size, handy both to the
traveller and to the student.
Of the scientific value of the work upon which all Persian carto
graphy has hitherto been based, it is undesirable that an incorrect
impression should prevail. No Persian survey has ever been made or
anywhere exists, in the same sense as it does, not merely in British
India, but in the contiguous countries of Afghanistan and Beluchistan,
to which the principles of a detailed survey by means of accurate
triangulation have been applied by British officers. There a number
and network of points and landmarks have been fixed, providing a
mathematical framework for all subsequent topography. It is not so in
Persia, No triangulation has been attempted here. The presence of

About this item

Content

This file is comprised of the correspondence and notes relating to two manuscripts by George Nathaniel Curzon. Firstly, 'Notes to accompany Map of Persia' (Published by the Royal Geographical Society), and secondly, the notes for Curzon's introduction to an edition published by Macmillan of 'The Adventures Haji Baba of Ispahan' by James Morier. In particular there is correspondence with the Macmillan publishers.

The file consists of:

  • The handwritten 'Notes to accompany the Map of Persia' (ff 1-11)
  • The printed journal article (ff 12-14)
  • A handwritten index to maps and plans (ff 16-21). This is divided into A) general maps i. Persia ii. Afghanistan. iii. Baluchistan. And B) Divisional maps. i Persia ii. Afghanistan iii. Baluchistan. These categories are all organised into five columns: title of map; author; number of sheets; scale of miles to inch; place and date of publication.
  • Headed notelets (ff 28-30) from 'Kedleston, Derby' with Curzon's notes on Haji Baba
  • Correspondence between George Augustin Macmillan and George Nathaniel Curzon
  • A flyer (ff 37-38) from Macmillan and Co for 'Illustrated Standard Novels' including a specimen illustration
  • Notes (ff 39-72) for Curzon's introduction to the account of Haji Baba.
Extent and format
1 file (70 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 72; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 4-11, and ff 48-74; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'(Manuscript of Notes to accompany Map of Persia (published by R.G.S) and the introduction to Haji Baba written by G.N.C. for Macmillan in 1895)' [‎12r] (23/144), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/38, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100076649785.0x000018> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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