1909 Calcutta Trades Association Report – Rare Colonial India Leather Trade Book
 
Overview & Historical Context
 
This is an extraordinarily rare 1909 leather-bound report of the Calcutta Trades Association (CTA), covering trade activities from 1 January to 31 December 1908. Printed by W. Newman & Co., at The Caxton Press, Calcutta. The CTA, incorporated under the Indian Companies Act 1882, was a key commercial body in British India - this report offers a unique snapshot of trade, industry, and commerce in colonial Calcutta.
 
Publication & Physical Details
 
Title: Report of the Committee of the Calcutta Trades Association from 1st January to 31st December 1908
Date: 1909
Binding: Thick dark blue leather over boards and spine, gilt tooling and gilt lettering on front board, gilt borders on both boards, decorative gilt embossing on panelled spine, with five raised bands.
Endpapers: Marble paste downs and endpapers with gilt turn-ins.
Edges: All-edge gilt.
Pagination: 160 pages, no missing pages, tightly bound.
Size: ~21.8 × 14.3 × 1.5 cm
Weight: ~338 g
 
Exterior Condition
 
The leather binding is intact and solid, with wear consistent with its age: rubbing at edges, small marks, patches where the leather shows superficial damage or small rips, and light scuffing on the spine.
Gilt lettering and borders still visible though somewhat softened in places.
Boards are straight and unwarped.
 
Interior Condition
 
Pages are lightly tanned, clean overall, and largely free of creases.
On page 17, a note has been attached via paperclip, which left minor indentations/marks on that page and its verso.
No ink or pencil writings elsewhere.
No rips in the text pages.
Binding is tight; no loose leaves.
All 160 pages present.
The marble pastedowns and endpapers are sound with gilt detailing intact.
 
Strengths & Collectability
 
Exceptionally rare – copies of CTA reports from this era are seldom seen in the market.
Beautiful binding: gilt edges, marble endpapers, decorative leather.
Complete, intact, with no missing pages.
 
Suggested Audience
 
Collectors of Indian colonial trade history, British India ephemera, leather-bound rare books, and trade organisation records.