The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
London. Siegle,Hill & Co., 1910. This Edition Limited to only 550 numbered copies,of which this is #162. Signed in ink to Limitation Page by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. Printed upon Handmade paper and Illustrated by twelve gleaming, jaw-dropping Illuminations by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, (after designs by E. Geddes). Folio. 10" x 14". Gloriously bound in the Art Nouveau style by pictorial gilt decorated Peacock and Fleural adornments upon snowy white vellum. Similar pictorial gilt embellishment and Titles to spine, with gilt titled morocco label. Pictorial endsheets. Top Edge Gilded. Housed in felt lined, green morocco Presentation Case.
The scale and luxurious decoration of this edition reflects European ideas of Persian art and culture, as well as the particular popularity of the Rubaiyat at the turn of the 20th century. It reproduces a manuscript version written and illuminated by Francis Sangorski and George Sutcliffe.
Sangorski and Sutcliffe were renowned artisan bookbinders who formed a partnership in 1901, and whose business continues today. They were famous for their lavishly jewelled bindings, the most sumptuous being for a copy of this work, known as ‘The Great Omar’, which sank with the Titanic in 1912 - State Library Victoria
As result of storage in slipcase, this copy's Vellum Covers present only a small fraction of the usual bowing native to this book. Small ink gift inscription to upper corner of front pastedown. A tight, brilliant Fine copy of this extraordinary creation.
Item #8887
Price: $3,000.00