8vo. iv, 181pp, [8]. With half-title and six terminal leaves of photographic illustrations. Original publisher's olive green cloth boards, printed paper lettering-piece to spine. Lightly rubbed and marked, with some toning to boards, spine sunned. With a loosely inserted contemporary newspaper clipping on the temples of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, and two pasted-in photographic clippings to FFEP. Armorial bookplate of John Comyn to FEP, with his inked ownership inscription to verso of FFEP. Light browning to endpapers, otherwise internally clean and crisp.

The second edition of an acclaimed study on the history of the Tamil ethnic group by South Indian historian Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri (1892-1975), whose 25 historical works are widely considered the reference standard for researchers and students of many aspects of South Indian culture and history.