AA. VV. - Codice Miniato Indiano - 1850

INDIA COLONIAL AND COURTLY ART: LITHOGRAPHIC CODE IN URDU WITH EROTIC MINIATURES
An fascinating and unusual composite volume that joins the legal history of British colonial India with the vibrant painting tradition of Rajasthan courts. The Volume, originally lithographed in Urdu language of Punjab, was later enriched with a series of full-page erotic miniatures in the traditional Indo-Persian and Mughal style. Each plate, framed by delicate floral motifs painted along the margins, transforms the text into a precious work of art with a strong visual and collectible impact.

ABSTRACT
A singular illustrated specimen in Urdu (Nastaliq script), dating from the early 19th century. Lively polychrome miniatures. The scenes depict noble couples in amorous (shringaara) poses within palace pavilions and terraces overlooking river landscapes, with portions of the original calligraphic text visible at the head and foot.

WHY TO BUY
An item of extraordinary visual presence that fuses the contrast between the elegant lithographic Nastaliq black script and the richness of pigment in the miniatures — with vermilion reds, deep greens, blues, and finely outlined architectural details — making every page opening a true display piece. The margins are fully hand-decorated with Mughal-style rose buds and the historic stamp of a district court attorney give the specimen an authentic historical patina and a strong conversational charm for collectors of curiosities, oriental erotic art, and Indo-Persian manuscripts/lithographs.

MARKET VALUE
Ancient Indian illustrated volumes with gallant and erotic scenes on historic paper constitute a highly sought-after segment in the international market for Oriental art and erotica collecting. The valuation is mainly determined by the number and execution quality of the hand-painted miniatures, the vibrancy of the pigments, and the integrity of the volume. In this exemplar, the richness of double- and single-page polychrome plates and the care of the floral borders represent solid attractive elements. A prudent indicative valuation might place it in the €1,400–€1,700 range.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Contemporary binding with signs of wear. Text in Urdu printed lithographically on Oriental paper, arranged in squared writing blocks with prominent calligraphic titles, erotic miniatures in gouache and watercolor directly on the text sheets, all surrounded by a floral frame running along the three outer margins. The closing formula “Tamam shud” appears with a floral frieze. Paper shows natural aging browning, some sporadic wear stains, and light handling marks; the miniature colors are fresh, well preserved, and notably brilliant.
Overall condition: good.
In old books with a centuries-long history, some imperfections may be present and are not always noted in the description. This listing contains AI visualizations. Please refer to the original photographs to verify the object’s actual condition. The images are an integral part of the description.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Sharh-i Qanun-i Rajistri Dastawizat - cycle of erotic miniatures
Various authors - Anonymous Rajasthan school artist (miniatures).

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
During the British Raj period, the Urdu language written in Perso-Arabic script became the official language of judicial and fiscal administration in northern India and Punjab. The diffusion of lithographic printing allowed faithful reproduction of the elegance of Nastaliq manuscript calligraphy. Rajasthan miniature masters began to recover obsolete models to paint scenes of courtly tradition and Kama Sutra. This work perfectly testifies to that fascinating cultural and artistic phenomenon.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
The pictorial works contained in the volume belong to the anonymous school of Rajasthan miniature painters (notably Jaipur, Udaipur, and Mewar), direct heirs of court ateliers that for centuries illuminated manuscripts for Rajput rulers and Mughal emperors. These artists handed down from father to son the use of a superfine squirrel-hair brush and the preparation of mineral and vegetable pigments, preserving a repertoire of imagery featuring marble architectures, floral carpets, cylindrical cushions (masnad), and princely couples dressed in turbans and pearl jewelry.

PRINTING HISTORY
The introduction of lithography in India in the early 19th century revolutionized Urdu and Persian publishing. Unlike movable type, the lithographic stone allowed scribes (katib) to trace the text by hand, preserving the fluidity of the Islamic manuscript tradition. The volume presented here preserves important autonomous editorial sections, including the end of a section followed by title pages in calligraphy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
For the history of erotic art and Indian miniature painting: Philip Rawson, Erotic Art of India, Thames & Hudson, 1977; Milo Cleveland Beach, Mughal and Rajput Painting, Cambridge University Press, 1992. For the tradition of lithographic book printing in Urdu in colonial India: Ulrike Stark, An Empire of Books: The Naval Kishore Press and the Diffusion of the Printed Word in Colonial India, Permanent Black, 2007.

WHY WE CHOSE THIS BOOK
We selected this work for its extraordinary capacity to surprise and fascinate the viewer. It is not merely an original document but above all a private gallery of art enclosed between two covers. The rich colors of the double-page erotic miniatures and the grace of the floral borders make it a magnetically collectible object, ideal for those seeking an exotic, decorative, and unconventional piece.