Sale 19BP02 | Lot 97

[EROTICA] Qajar-period illustrated erotic manuscript.

Catalogue: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps

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Lot Details

Lot 97
[EROTICA] Qajar-period illustrated erotic manuscript.
Iran: (?)mid-19th century. Three-quarters blue morocco, cloth sides. 7 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches (19.5 x 14 cm); Persian manuscript on polished paper, 10 ff. on paper guards, with 34 finely painted vignettes of couples in amorous embraces, surrounded by descriptive texts in nasta'liq. A few minor restorations, some soiling, in all an attractive example of a comparatively rare manuscript genre.
Christiane Gruber, in her introduction to Islamic Book Arts in Indiana University Collections, published 2009, has an interesting discussion of erotic compilations such as this (based on examples in the Kinsey Institute holdings). She mentions the possibility that such works, reflecting an outmoded perception of Persian libertinism, were likely produced for a Euro-American export market. The present work appears to parallel the Kama Sutra in its varied approach to intercourse.

C 

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

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Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

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Catalogue Info

Rare Books, Autographs & Maps

Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 10am EST

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