Titled Aristotle's Compleat Master-Piece, though not actually
containing the Greek philosopher's work, the book first emerged
around 1680, The Guardian reports. Banned in the mid-18th
century until 1961, the illustrated book discuses sex and
pregnancy. A 1760 edition is expected to be sold for up to £400
($641) when it goes on sale at Edinburgh auction house Lyon and
Turnbull. The auctioneer's book specialist Cathy Marsden said:
"It was very popular. It was probably the most printed text of
its kind and it went through a lot of editions. "There's nothing
in it that would really be considered dirty in our society now.
It's funny more than anything. She added: "There are various
things which warn parents about what could happen to their
children if they sinned whilst conceiving them, perhaps by
having sex outside marriage. "It would say that your baby would
be born all hairy or it would suggest that conjoined twins were
the result of the parents' sins." The book will be sold at
auction on January 16.