A Buddhist Paradise: The Murals of Alchi (Western Himalayas).

Hong Kong, China Ravi Kumar for Visual Dharma Publications, 1982. Hardcover First edition (1984), so stated and limited to 3000 numbered copies of which this is Number 1183. First edition (1982), so stated and limited to 3000 numbered copies of which this is Number 1183. Very Good+ in Near Fine DJ: The Book shows indications of very careful use: slight spine lean; a light nudge to the lower rear corner tip; the binding is secure; the text is clean. Free of any creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of any underlining, hi-lighting or marginalia or marks in the text. Free of any ownership names, dates, addresses, notations, inscriptions, stamps, plates, or labels. A handsome, nearly-new copy, structurally sound and tighly bound, showing a couple of minor, unobtrusive flaws. Bright and clean. Close to 'As New'. The DJ shows only the mildest wrinkling at the lower rear corner tip; unclipped mylar-protected. Attractive and intact. Very close to "As New". NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 4to. (11.3 x 9 x 1 inches). 67-page text followed by a much larger section of color photographs by Lionel Fourner. Language: English. Weight: 57.7 ounces. Hardback with DJ. Seen by very few visitors until recently, the monastic complex of of Alchi, nestled in a beautiful valley in Ladakh Himalayas, has miraculously preserved Buddhist wall paintings of unmatched splendor. No less exciting than those at Ajanta or Dunhuang, they are important for the history of Tibetan culture, and a great significance to Kashmiri art as well. This is the first major monograph on the subject, with copious color photographs. The murals were done between the 11th & 13th centuries. the celebrated Indian art historian and field authority, Pratapaditya Pal, describes and illustrates these murals in great detail.