Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1840 - 1858] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 bound volume handwritten
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Major General George Legrand Jacob (24 April 1805-1881) was an army officer in the East India Company. At the age of fifteen he began learning languages under Dr John Borthwick Gilchrist. He became fluent in Hindi, Persian, Marathi and Sanksrit. He was in the Grenadier Regiment Bombay Native Infantry and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1823 and to Major General in 1861. He is perhaps most known for suppressing the Indian Rebellion of 1857, involving a mutiny in the 27th Bombay Native Infantry. He was one of the earliest copiers of the Asoka Inscriptions. In addition to publishing many papers on Indian history, archaeology and topography, he wrote a book titled 'Western India before and during the Mutiny' which was published in 1871. He died in London on 27 January 1881 and was buried in Brockwood Cemetery in Surrey.
Repository
Archival history
The inscriptions were recorded by Legrand Jacob.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
It is unknown how this volume came to be part of the Society's Collections. It is likely that it could have been given by Legrand Jacob.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Copies, transcripts and translations of Indian stone and copperplate inscriptions made by George Legrand Jacob. Each inscription is labelled as to its location. These include: Edicts of Ashoka, and other inscriptions, Junagadh, Girnar Hills. Inscription on a copperplate dug up near the Machchhu River, Gujarat. Inscriptions from the "Geernan" Temple. Inscription from a black marble slab in an old well within Mangrol. Inscriptions at the Somnath Temple, Prabhas Patan. Inscriptions from temple at "Billawal". Inscription taken from the [Tulao of Ooua]. Inscriptions on copper plate dug at [Neroor] in he Korodal Division of the [Sawunt Waree] State. April 1848 with transcriptions in Balbodhy and translation into English.
These are contained within a bound volume with red leather covering. Please note the frond board has come away from the spine.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here : https://royalasiaticarchives.org/. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Language of material
- English
- Sanskrit
- pli
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The collections hold Aja'ib al Tabaqat by Muhammad Tahir b. Abul Qasim in a version translated by George Legrand Jacob. The collections also contain two books authored by Jacob. Details can be found https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?idx=&q=Legrand+Jacob&weight_search=1.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Jacob Sir George Le Grand 1805-1881 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
The material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.