Rubáiyat of Omar Khayyám.

£175 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

A handsome copy of The Rubàiyàt of Omar Khayyàm, with colour-plate illustrations after the Hungarian artist Willy Pogany (1882-1955). The edition was based on Fitzgerald's translation, first published in 1859. The poem presents an interesting challenge to any reader trying to sort through its profound symbolism and not-so-obvious theme, and gained recognition over the course of the nineteenth century as a growing 'cult of the Rubáiyát' found expression in 'the Omar Khayyám Clubs of England and America' (Yohannan, p. 202). 8vo (230 x 160mm); printed in blue and black with boarders and decorations in addition to the 16 tipped-in colour plates, all by Willy Pogany, slight age-toning to text block otherwise near-fine; publishers black morocco, blind embossed with gilt and red decorations and lettering, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, slight rubbing to fore-edge of upper board, otherwise near-fine; with the original cardboard box bearing label; 'OMAR No. 2 Ant(ique leather), three lid corners split, otherwise still sound.

• Binding: Hardcover

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