Richard Burton · 1883

The Kama Sutra

USD 8,700

The first English edition of the Kama Sutra, privately printed for the Kama Shastra Society.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE & AUTHENTICITY

Vatsyayana; [Burton, Sir Richard Francis; Arbuthnot, Forster Fitzgerald (Translators)]The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana. Translated from the Sanscrit. In Seven Parts, with Preface, Introduction, and Concluding Remarks.London & Benares: Printed for the Hindoo Kama Shastra Society, 1883.TRUE FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING FROM THE ORIGINAL COVER COVER COVERT PARTS. Octavo (approx. 8.25" x 5.5"). [Complete text block comprising Parts I through VII bound continuously].

A highly important copy of the definitive English translation of the world's most famous manual on love and sensuality. To evade the draconian penalties of the British Victorian Obscenity Laws (the Obscene Publications Act of 1857), Sir Richard Francis Burton and F.F. Arbuthnot formed the fictitious "Hindoo Kama Shastra Society" and printed a mere 250 copies.This copy is definitively identified as the true first printing originally issued to subscribers in seven individual paper-wrapped parts, rather than the later vellum-bound reprints.Part I retains the incredibly rare original, uncensored "London" imprint on the title page ("London: Printed for the Hindoo Kama Shastra Society, 1883").Parts II through VII display the subsequent "Benares" imprint location ("Benares: Printed for the Hindoo Kama Shastra Society, 1883"), a tactical alteration hastily instituted by Burton mid-production to misdirect British police forces threatening to raid the London printing house.BINDING & PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONBound in an early, contemporary style of half brown morocco leather over marbled paper-covered boards. The spine features five raised bands, gilt-ruled compartments, and is lettered directly in gold: "KAMA / SUTRA" and dated "1883" at the foot. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Internal text blocks remain crisp, remarkably clean, and exceptionally bright with very minimal age-toning and no heavy foxing.

Edition

First Edition. One of 250

Provenance

From the Estate of Gary Oleason and Francine Ness, esteemed proprietors of the legendary Waiting for Godot Books (Hadley, Massachusetts), curated across approximately 40 years of premier antiquarian bookselling.

Status

Placed