Seventy-two Specimens of Castes in India (1837) illustrated manuscript

This illustrated manuscript "Seventy-two Specimens of Castes in India" made in Southern India in 1837 consists of 72 full-color hand-painted images of men and women of the various castes and religious and ethnic groups found in Madura, India at that time. Each drawing was made on mica, a transparent, flaky mineral which splits into thin, transparent sheets. As indicated on the presentation page, the album was compiled by T.Vardapillay the Indian writing master at an English school established by American missionaries in Madura, and given to the Reverend William Twining.

The manuscript shows Indian dress and jewelry adornment in the Madura region as they appeared before the onset of Western influences on South Asian dress and style. Each illustrated portrait is captioned in English and in Tamil, and the title page of the work includes English, Tamil, and Telugu.

This beautiful illustrated manuscript is available in public domain from  "Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University". 

http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/seventy-two-specimens-castes-india

This is the Title page of this beautiful manuscript.

This title page contains the following text 

Seventy two speciments of Castes in India "All People, nations and languages shall serve HIM". 

The same title appeared in Tamil and Telugu languages also in this first page.

This is the second page(Presentation page) of this manuscript. 

This presentation page is written in English language and it contain the following matter.

Presented to the Rev. William Twining as a Token of Obligation by his far distant and unkown friend Daniel Poor  "Unkown & yet well known. Madura, Southern India 2nd February 1837 written by T. Vardapillay, writing master in the two English schools established by the American Missionaries in Madura City.

The name "Daniel Poor" is in a different hand, presumably that of the donor himself.

This is 1st illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Jester and Mussilwoman".

This is 2nd illustration in this manuscript "Maharatta Chief and Maharatta Female".

This is 3rd illustration in this manuscript "Arab Soldier and Arab Female".

This is 4th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Chief and Mussilwoman".

This is 5th illustration in this manuscript "Patau Chief and his Wife".

This is 6th illustration in this manuscript "Seik Chief and his Wife".

This is 7th illustration in this manuscript "Bengallee Chief and his Wife".

This is 8th illustration in this manuscript "Rajapoot Chief and his Wife".

This is 9th illustration in this manuscript "Maharatta Accountant and his Wife".

This is 10th illustration in this manuscript "Guzzeratt Brahminy and his Wife".

This is 11th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Herald and his Wife".

This is 12th illustration in this manuscript "Arnee Brahminy and His Wife".

This is 13th illustration in this manuscript "Parsee Man and His Wife".

This is 14th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Merchant and his Wife".

This is 15th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Hookahberdar and his Wife".

This is 16th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Minstrel and Hindoo Musician".

This is 17th illustration in this manuscript "Brahminy Messenger and his Wife".

This is 18th illustration in this manuscript "Canaree's Brahminy and Female".

This is 19th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Dancing Girl and Hindoo Dancing Master".

This is 20th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Musicians".

This is 21st illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Astronomer and his Wife".

This is 22nd illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Saddler and his Wife".

This is 23rd illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Bantier and his Wife".

This is 24th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Choapdar and his Wife".

This is 25th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Dancing Girl and Mussilman Dancing Master".

This is 26th illustration in this manuscript "Sholeah Brahminy and his Wife".

This is 27th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Pilgrim and his Wife".

This is 28th illustration in this manuscript "Thathoovauthee Brahminy and his Wife".

This is 29th illustration in this manuscript "Rajapoot Songster and Rajapoot Musician".

This is 30th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Peon and his Wife".

This is 31st illustration in this manuscript "Lapidary(Mussilman) and his Wife".

This is 32nd illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Beggar and his Wife".

This is 33rd illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Priest and his Pupil".

This is 34th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Bangle Maker and his Wife and Child".

This is 35th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Hunter and his Wife".

This is 36th illustration in this manuscript "Malabar Pilgrim and his Wife".

This is 37th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Beggar and his Wife".

This is 38th illustration in this manuscript "Mussilman Water Bearer and his Wife".

This is 39th illustration in this manuscript "Seringuru Brahminy and his Wife".

This is 40th illustration in this manuscript "Malabar Goldsmith and his Wife".

This is 41st illustration in this manuscript "Malabar Tailor and his Wife".

This is 42nd illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Barber and his Wife".

This is 43rd illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Fencer and his Wife".

This is 44th illustration in this manuscript "Lumbandy and his Wife".

This is 45th illustration in this manuscript "Hindoo Palaukeen Bearer and his Wife".

This is 46th illustration in this manuscript "Causee Brahminy and his Wife".

This is 46th illustration in this manuscript "Religious Offering (Hindoo)".