Trapaud, Elisha A short account of the Prince of Wales's Island, or Pulo Peenang, in the East-Indies; given to Capt. Light, by the King of Quedah. Ornamented with an elegant engraving, representing "A View of the North Point of the Prince of Wales's Island, and the ceremony of christening it." Also a chart, including the plan of the island. London John Stockdale 1788
First edition, 8vo, pp.(iii)-vi, (7)-34, [6], 12, [1], [1, blank], frontispiece, 2 folding maps. A very good copy in contemporary wrappers, original paper label on spine. Bound without half-title. Early stamp with coronet of the Holstein-Holsteinborg library to title-page.
Bastin & Rohatgi, Prints of Southeast Asia in the India Office Library, no.1

The first book on British Malaya, published two years after the British flag was raised on the island of Penang. Elisha Trapaud was both a captain in the Madras Engineers and a talented amateur artist; he accompanied Francis Light on his mission to Penang in 1786, and was an eyewitness to the foundation of the British colony, producing a sketch of the event. The frontispiece of this work was engraved after Trapaud's sketch, and is of considerable historical importance as the earliest published depiction of Pengang. Our copy includes the Plan of the Strait within Puloo Pinang by Captain James Scott, published by Dalrymple in 1786.