19th century AD. A complete northern Indian manuscript book comprising fifty-seven pages of text, suspected to be in Urdu, in a neat hand, the final page bearing the nom-de-plume of the author or scribe, with ten full page, hand-drawn and hand-coloured and gilded illustrations depicting seated or kneeling couples in sexual congress and a coloured and gilded first page header; bound in the original moulded and ornamental papier-mâché boards with later cloth tape to spine; the laid paper pages watermarked 'VICTORY' in an arc and of English origin. 570 grams, 33 x 23cm (13 x 9"). Property of a North American collector; acquired in the 1970s. This text seems to be in the tradition of works such as the Lazzat Un Nisa, originally written in 15th century India and still published today; India has a long history of producing erotic books and manuals, including the famous Kama Sutra, to the horror of some Victorian missionaries during the time of British Raj.

Fine condition; some browning/spotting to pages and board edges/corners a little abraded.