Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, the world’s oldest multi-printed colored book was created in 1633 in China. The 17th century book is so fragile that it was never to be opened until now to be digitized. Illustrations in eight categories, which include birds, plumbs, orchids, bamboos, fruit, stones and ink drawings, are applied using printing blocks and made to look like watercolors. Each page is available to view through Cambridge University Library’s digital public library.  Technology for the win on this!

 (via This Is Colossal)