A 17th-century book that includes 'perhaps the most beautiful set of prints ever made' is now freely available for the world to see on the Cambridge Digital Library. Estimated to be worth millions on the open market, the 'Manual of Calligraphy and Painting' was made in 1633 by the Ten Bamboo Studio in Nanjing.
The book is the earliest Chinese book printed by the technique of polychrome xylography known as douban, invented and perfected by Hu Zhengyan. It contains eight categories: birds, plums, orchids, bamboos, fruit, stones, ink drawings (round fans) and miscellany.
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