Hi Arlo,

According to my Indian Epigraphy book, pp. 200ff,  the earliest "publication" -- in some sense of the term, in this case consisting only of a translation -- of a Sanskrit inscription was by Charles Wilkins in 1788.The earliest full publication, including facsimile and transliterated text, was by Henry Colebrook in 1801. At least, these were the earliest publications that I was able to find.

Rich 

On Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 10:24 PM Arlo Griffiths via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:
Dear colleagues,

Does anyhow know a modern scholarly publication of a Sanskrit inscription older than the one that can be found here in the following?

John Crawfurd, An Inscription from the Kawi or Ancient Javanese Language, Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap der Kunsten en Wetenschappen 8, 1816, Batavia: Government Press.

The volume of the Verhandelingen in question can be found on archive.org. The title is misleading, and the decipherment utterly unreliable, but the transcription clearly reflects the Sanskrit-text of the 'Calcutta Stone' (https://iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/kolkata-calcutta-stone-bicentennial-british-interregnum-java-1811-1816). It occurred to me recently that this publication might mark the beginning of Sanskrit epigraphy as a modern scholarly enterprise. But perhaps there is competition from publications by British officers who were posted in India proper rather than in 'Farther India'. Please enlighten me.

Best wishes,

Arlo Griffiths



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