![[BURTON, Richard Francis (1821-1890)]. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana. London and Benares: for the Hindoo Kama Shastra Society, 1883.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2012/CKS/2012_CKS_05334_0147_000(burton_richard_francis_the_kama_sutra_of_vatsyayana_london_and_benares095927).jpg?w=1)
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[BURTON, Richard Francis (1821-1890)]. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana. London and Benares: for the Hindoo Kama Shastra Society, 1883.
7 parts in one volume, 8° (245-250 x 154-157mm). Additional general title-page printed in red and black. (Small repair in the blank margin of the first few leaves, some spotting.) Contemporary red half calf, with all original printed part wrappers bound in; in a custom-made red morocco clamshell case inset with three erotic miniatures in 'Cosway' style, one on the upper side and two within (calf binding with light wear, part wrappers spotted and with some wear at the extremities, small repair to first front wrapper).
RARE FIRST EDITION OF BURTON'S KAMA SUTRA. ONE OF ONLY 250 COPIES, with all the original part wrappers, and housed in a fine, Cosway-style case illuminated with erotic miniatures. The Kama Shastra Society had a membership of two: Burton and 'Bunny' Arbuthnot, a close friend since their days in India in the 1850s and a fellow student of Hindu erotic literature. The Obscene Publications Act of 1857 applied only to publicly circulated material; the 'Society' circumvented its strictures and its publications were anonymous. But it was short-lived, commencing with this work and ending with Burton's death in 1890. The Benares and, later, Cosmopoli imprints were merely a ruse to conceal the true place of publication. As early as 1923 Penzer noted that 'the edition in parts was soon exhausted, and is now practically unobtainable.' Penzer p.163; Casada 83; Spink 83.
7 parts in one volume, 8° (245-250 x 154-157mm). Additional general title-page printed in red and black. (Small repair in the blank margin of the first few leaves, some spotting.) Contemporary red half calf, with all original printed part wrappers bound in; in a custom-made red morocco clamshell case inset with three erotic miniatures in 'Cosway' style, one on the upper side and two within (calf binding with light wear, part wrappers spotted and with some wear at the extremities, small repair to first front wrapper).
RARE FIRST EDITION OF BURTON'S KAMA SUTRA. ONE OF ONLY 250 COPIES, with all the original part wrappers, and housed in a fine, Cosway-style case illuminated with erotic miniatures. The Kama Shastra Society had a membership of two: Burton and 'Bunny' Arbuthnot, a close friend since their days in India in the 1850s and a fellow student of Hindu erotic literature. The Obscene Publications Act of 1857 applied only to publicly circulated material; the 'Society' circumvented its strictures and its publications were anonymous. But it was short-lived, commencing with this work and ending with Burton's death in 1890. The Benares and, later, Cosmopoli imprints were merely a ruse to conceal the true place of publication. As early as 1923 Penzer noted that 'the edition in parts was soon exhausted, and is now practically unobtainable.' Penzer p.163; Casada 83; Spink 83.
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