Hi Andanna,
The Coronation Durbar Illustrated is a very difficult book to find. I saw one on ebay a couple of years ago and it went for a very very high price. They are usually pulled apart and sold as individual photos so if you can obtain a copy it would be a gold mine of information and would most likely have a very steep cost.
My suggestion is that you go to the Gertrude Bell website and take a look at her work and diaries. The photos she took are quite stunning and her diaries are quite fun to read as they give a glimpse of an interesting era.
Following is a list of references you can seek out for more detailed information. The first and foremost sought after book in any condition is simply titled the Delhi Durbar. By Dorothy Menpes with illustrations by her husband Mortimer Menpes. These color plates are a major source of information used by Marlborough and I am certain Beau Geste uses it too. I don’t have one but a friend does and will loan it to me. I am trying to acquire one but they tend to get very expensive with prices over $300 dollars on ebay in recent months. Copyright 1903 with no reprinting as far as I know, the rest of these are in no significant order. I have Wheelers Book and will be happy to lend it it has great details and poor pictures.
THE DURBAR
Menpes, Mortimer & Dorothy
Publisher: Adam & Charles Black, London
Publication Date: 1903
The first Durbar was held in 1877 to proclaim Queen Victoria as Empress of India. This is the second Durbar to proclaim Edward VII as king, in 1902 but was not attended by the King either. It was not until the 1911 Durbar, when George V and Queen Mary went to India, was the Emperor and his Empress proclaimed in person to the people of India.
The authors stayed in Camp Number One called "The Millionaires' Camp." in Delhi. The illustrations have been engraved and printed at the Menpes Press under Mr. Menpes's direction. 210 pp.
History of the Delhi Coronation Durbar Held on the First of January 1903 to Celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII, Emperor of India *
S Wheeler
ISBN: 8185318565
Publication Date: 1991
It’s a good book for the details but the photos are very poor look like photo copies of photos. However it is a fantastic source book.
The British Empire: A Most Superior Person George Nathaniel Curzon, Viceroy Extraordinary. *
This is a BBC TV Time Life magazine that accompanied there TV show in the 1970’s it was edited by David Dilks who is a noted author on Curzon. Has some very nice Black and White Photos of various notable people and attractions at the Durbar
The Delhi Durbar 1903: A Complete Roll and Index of Recipients. By Peter Duckers and Ian McInnes.
Paperback
Publisher: Jade Publishing Ltd (2002)
ISBN-10: 190073401X
ISBN-13: 978-1900734011
Coronation Durbar Delhi 1903 by Wiele and Klein of Madras Black and White Plates of the entire event extremely difficult to find in one piece They generally get broken up and sold as individual plates.
Curzon of India *2 Volumn set by David Dilks 1969 A detail account of his life and actions as Viceroy of India.
Stories from the Raj: Sahibs, Memsahibs and others By Pran Nevile
A Season in India: Letters of Ruby Madden ,Experiences of an Australian Girl at the Great Coronation Durbar, Delhi 1903. By Helen Rutledge. Detailed account of what she saw in there.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, A Life and Intimate Study By MG Sir George Aston 1937. The Duke received the oaths of fielty and was the representative of his brother Edward the VII at the 1903 Durbar.
LADY CURZON'S INDIA (LETTERS OF A VICEREINE)
Bradley , John
ISBN: 0297787012
Publisher: Weidenfield & Nicolson 180pp 16 b/w photos. Endpaper maps 9 x 6 520g.
Publication Date: 1985
Book Description: Edited by John Bradley. With a foreword by Nigel Nicolson. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1985. XI, 179 S. Gebundene Ausgabe mit Schutzumschlag. Papierbedingt gebräunt. - Mary Curzon was one of the most remarkable women of her generation. An intelligent and lovely American, she captivated society on both sides of the Atlantic. As the wife of George Curzon, Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, she was the youngest woman to become Vicereine and the only American to attain that supreme position. Lady Curzon`s letters from India to her family in America draw an informal picture of the Curzons` public and private life that has no parallel in the records of British imperial rule. They are fresh and colourful, describing - often with humour -the durbars, levees, dances and receptions (with sidelong glances at the amusing snobbery of the Anglo-Indians), as well as the physical discomforts and gruelling journeys she underwent as Vicereine. These letters also provide the most intimate portrait yet of Lord Curzon, Mary`s beloved `Pappy`, revealing the devoted husband and father behind the austere public persona of the Viceroy. Her letters to him from England in 1901 are intriguing for the gossip they contain : `Darling I am so hopelessly indiscreet & outspoken in my letters that I hope you tear them up`, she urged him. They depict Edwardian society at the highest level, with figures such as Edward vu, Queen Alexandra, Balfour, Kitchener, Asquith and the young Churchill playing central roles. Lady Curzon`s story ends poignantly : she died at the age of thirty-six, leaving three small children, just a few months after George Curzon resigned in circumstances of great bitterness.
An Indian Sketch Book: Impressions of the East and the Great Durbar
Raven-Hill, L
Publisher: "Punch", London
Binding: Hard Cover - Linen
Illustrator: L Raven-Hill
Publication Date 1903
BY GRACE OF THE LORD OF THE REALM The Medal Roll for the Delhi Durbar 1903
ROUSE M
ISBN: 1870192427
Publisher: TOKEN, UK
Publication Date: 2002
Binding: Card Cover
A detailed study of the Delhi Durbar with a full list of Recipients. Well illustrated.
Leaves from a Viceroy's Notebook and Other Papers.
Curzon of Kedleston, the Marquess, Viceroy and Governor-General of India 1899-1904 and 1904-1905
Publisher: Macmillan, London
Publication Date: 1926
39 illustraions, x.414pp, Of particular interest in this work by Curzon are a long chapter on "The Mehtar of Chitral" (pp91-146) and one "On the INdian Frontier divided (1) Kashmir to Gilgit, (2) From Gilgit to the Pamirs (pp147-206).
Durbar Souvenier
Bourne & Shepherd ( Official Photographers
Publisher: Bourne & Shepherd, Bombay
Publication Date: 1903
They did one for 1911 and 1903 they are very detailed Black and white photos of everything about the Durbar.
Other publications that come in handy and seem to come up on ebay a great deal are stereo view slides they have very well done photos that show good detail under magnification and aren’t outrageously priced.
www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk
This site has her diaries and letters which make for a really interesting read. Especially if you are interested in the goings on in society at the time. Her black and white photos are also highly sought after by collectors and only come up once in a while. But go to the site and check it out. It’s a university site in the UK so they may have the ability to make copies of photos for use by authors. Perhaps they will be able to assist you too.
I have seen a printed program which lists events for this Durbar similar to what you might get at a Baseball game. The one I saw included the list of military competitions and of course Polo, Cricket and Equestrian events and the Formal Ball which was the event of the century for most of these folks.
Hope you find this information helpful. Also I have a large Powerpoint presentation of photos I have picked up on the web from various places if you want me to send them to you please pm me with your email address the files are quite large.
All the best
Dave
![86a[1].jpg](/data/attachments/21/21069-5ee1f673304880e939469d21dab89d32.jpg)