EARLY 20TH CENTURY 'RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM,' (1915) TRANSLATED BY EDWARD FITZGERALD FROM PERSIAN TO ENGLISH, IN BRUSHED SUEDE LEATHER COVER, W/GILT EMBOSSED JACKET COVER

(Circa 1915)

American Arts & Crafts period antique books

PUBLISHER: 

Barse & Hopkins, New York, 1915

DIMENSIONS:

7" Height  x 4 ½" Width, with total of 55 complete pages

DESCRIPTION:

The 'Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám' (b. 1048, Persia) is the title that Edward Fitzgerald gave to his 1859 translation from Persian to English of a selection of poetic quatrains attributed to Omar Khayyam, dubbed 'the astronomer-poet' of Persia. Fitzgerald's work at first was unsuccessful commercially. This is a brushed suede (soft leather) Arts & Crafts bound volume from 1915, published in New York by Barse & Hopkins. It features a steel engraved illustration of the translator Edward Fitzgerald on the front inset page, with a thin onion paper cover, bound into the spine. The title page is printed in both period red-orange and black ink, with a decorative border. The interior of the volume is free from damage. The suede of the cover is also without any significant damage, except from some edge fraying that was clearly caused by the book being previously read, on what appears to be several occasions. There's a small tear of the inside of the leather volume cover that appears to have been glued back into place and is an old repair. The interior pages are largely free of corner folds, mildew, foxing, water damage or other maladies. The suede has significantly softened and is fairly delicate, considering the suede volume is now 104 years old. A classic American Arts & Crafts period publication of the internationally famous and literary sensation, the 'Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.' From ancient Persia with love.

CONDITION:

Fair to Good overall vintage condition.