FIRST PROSPECTUS OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL EDITION OF MARSDEN'S NUMISMATA ORIENTALIA. TH THE leading idea, in which it is now sought to enlist the sympathies of the European world and the frank aid of the elect Literati of this department of Antiquarian research, has been suggested by the singular and abiding merit of Marsden's illustrative Plates, which embrace so comprehensive a range of Asiatic dynasties, combined with such exceptional artistic fidelity in the reproduction of the selected examples. The original series of the 57 Copper-plates has lately become the property of Messrs. Trübner & Co., who, though well aware of the shortcomings-as judged in the present day-of the first and solitary edition, are led to believe that the Plates themselves are calculated to insure a sound and satisfactory basis for the amplification of the annals of each and every section of the imperial and outlying nationalities noticed in the publication of 1822: including as it does memorials of lands extending irregularly from Spain to Java, and from Samarkand to Ceylon; and embracing, in epochal spread, many of the more prominent incidents of Oriental history from the 2nd century B.C. to A.D. 1814. The Prospectus, in its present preliminary stage, contemplates, as an essential feature, a division and sub-division of labour in an amateur, but not the less serious and severe, spirit-so as to assign the description of the monuments of the several dynasties or ethnic divisions to those Editors, who, by their previous writings or other titles, have established a claim to the confidence of contemporary criticism; and in so far seeks to make this new edition a contribution of each nation's home knowledge, that the preference will be given to the authors who appear most competent to illustrate the annals of their own or their adopted land. As it may be difficult to insure any given measure of uniformity in the succeeding issues, it is proposed to limit the revised sections of the original work in each of the new part-numbers, according to the space required to secure full and ample justice to the Numismatic materials now or hereafter forthcoming-so that each detached publication in the present series shall be independent and complete in itself, forming a Monograph of one or more divisions of Dynastic Coinages. Additional Illustrations will be incorporated from time to time, as occasion suggests or opportunities offer, in the shape of Woodcuts or special Plates, engraved or autotyped, in continuation and amplification of the old designs. The work will be issued in Parts. The Price to SUBSCRIBERS will be strictly limited to ninepence per Sheet of Letterpress, and ninepence per Plate of Engravings. ADVANCED NOTICE. The preliminary announcement by Messrs. Trübner of the publication of a new edition of Marsden's Numismata Orientalia has been received with so much favour by the leading representatives of this branch of research throughout Europe and the East, that the ultimate success of the work may already be said to be secured. As the Publisher's profits constitute altogether a secondary consideration, and contributors avowedly repudiate all honoraria, their conjoint efforts will be devoted to the production of a book worthy alike of our modern advance in knowledge and the simultaneously improved power of mechanical illustration, which owes so much to later science. The guiding scheme of the literary portion of the undertaking pre-supposes the complete independence of each signatory Editor, whose article or separate section of the more comprehensive work will constitute a detached brochure, or publication in itself—paged without reference to the larger Encyclopædia, the final limits of which it may be difficult to foretell; the ultimate incorporation of the separate Essays being determined by pricrity of date of the dynasty treated of,-while ample introductory heads of chapters and copious indices will secure all eventual facility of reference. The general plan for the conduct of the work submitted to the different contributors contemplates A.--A brief but comprehensive outline of the history of the dynasty whose coins form the subject of review. B.--A full and critical list of the Regal succession,-reducing all comments to the lowest measure of foot-notes, under the assumption that the responsible author has satisfied himself of the true value of his available data-supplemented by serial citations of the works of all modern writers on the subject. C.-A notice, as complete as circumstances may admit of, regarding the original intrinsic and exchangeable values of the current coin-to the rejection of all reference to minor or unauthorized debasements by later rulers. D.-A full and exhaustive numismatic description of the coins in due order; the text-notes or comments on separate pieces being restricted to marked peculiarities, which should only be enlarged upon in cases of real importance. On the other hand, kindred illustrations from Palæographic or contemporary inscriptions, architectural or sigillary monuments, will materially aid the main purpose of the present publication. E.-A concluding résumé of the norinal sit, the varying designations and fortunes of the mint cities, with a general index of the dates developed on the dynastic coinage. As an earnest of the future promise of the publication, the following names of Editors and the distribution of subjects already provided for may be cited : : |