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Rare Prinsep Book on Varanasi Fetches Millions
22 Oct
Summary
- A rare book by James Prinsep on Varanasi sold for Rs 36.76 lakh.
- The book 'Benares Illustrated' documents the city's ghats and life.
- The 1833 volume sold for over thrice its estimated auction value.
In February 2026, a rare copy of James Prinsep's 1833 book, 'Benares Illustrated,' sold for Rs 36.76 lakh, far exceeding its Rs 10 lakh estimate. This 68-page volume provides a visual record of Varanasi through 34 lithograph and engraving illustrations.
Prinsep, an artist and scholar who lived in Benares from 1820, meticulously documented the city's architecture, religious practices, and everyday life between 1820 and 1825. His work captures iconic sites like Manikarnika Ghat and the Temple of Vishveshwur.
The book is valued not only as a historical record of early 19th-century Varanasi but also as an art-historical object. The auctioned copy was signed by Prinsep and displayed age-related wear, yet its rarity and detailed content drove the exceptional auction price.
