Hi Megan,

This is a challenging question, and I would love for folks to share their thoughts on the list. We all have queries such as this where we actually have zero specific knowledge to share with a patron, but then the wheels start turning. I'm very interested in "seeing" how others approach this.

I do not know if the text volumes of the Description de l'Egypte, or other similar publications, would have references to veiling or not. If the Description did, it would likely be in the "Etat moderne" volumes. Possibly plates in the "Etat moderne" plate volumes (although, likely not the pubic hair component...). This comes to mind since we are engaged in a little project locally to clean up and enhance our Description record.

A long shot for the pubic hair, or at least images created for semi-public consumption reflecting 19th century European orientalized imagery, would be titles such as Forbidden erotica : the Rotenberg collection (2005), Early erotic photography (2002), or similar collections of early erotica.

Happy hunting,

Peter Blank