This is not the first edition of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam illustrated by Gilbert Penrose James, but it's definitely the most colorful and (if in good condition) valuable. It features 16 full-color plates surrounded by decorative borders with descriptive guard sheets. Of course, apart from the illustrations, there are also stylishly decorated pages with exactly 75 quatrains, together with an introduction and some additional notes.
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Altogether, we are dealing with 8 preliminary pages (numbered in Roman numerals) for the title layout and Reynold Alleyne Nicholson's introduction, 202 main pages with Edward FitzGerald's translated quatrains (the first version from 1859!) and explanatory notes, and 16 unnumbered leaves of plates interspersed throughout the book, which feature Gilbert James's full-page color illustrations. The book was printed in Edinburgh.
Then to this earthen Bowl did I adjourn
My Lip the secret Well of Life to learn :
My Lip the secret Well of Life to learn :
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Iram indeed is gone with all its Rose, facing page
And Jamshyd's Sev'n-ring'd Cup where no one knows :
And Jamshyd's Sev'n-ring'd Cup where no one knows :
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Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling :
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling :
Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse — and Thou --
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse — and Thou --
"How sweet is mortal Sovran ty" — think some :
Others — "How blest the Paradise to come !"
Others — "How blest the Paradise to come !"
Think, in this batter'd Caravanserai
Whose Doorways are alternate Night and Day, --
Whose Doorways are alternate Night and Day, --
Ah, my Beloved, fill the cup that clears
To-day of past Regrets and future Fears --
To-day of past Regrets and future Fears --
Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,
Before we too into the Dust descend ; --
Before we too into the Dust descend ; --
Myself when young did eagerly frequent
Doctor and Saint, and heard great Argument --
Doctor and Saint, and heard great Argument --
Then to the rolling Heav’n itself I cried,
Asking, "What Lamp had Destiny to guide . . . ?"
Asking, "What Lamp had Destiny to guide . . . ?"
For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day,
I watch’d the Potter thumping his Wet Clay :
I watch’d the Potter thumping his Wet Clay :
Ah, fill the Cup : — what boots it to repeat
How Time is slipping underneath our Feet :
How Time is slipping underneath our Feet :
While the Rose blows along the River Brink,
With old Khayyam the Ruby Vintage drink :
With old Khayyam the Ruby Vintage drink :
Listen again. One Evening at the Close
Of Ramazan, ere the better Moon arose, --
Of Ramazan, ere the better Moon arose, --
Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose !
That Youth’s sweet-scented Manuscript should close :
That Youth’s sweet-scented Manuscript should close :
And when Thyself with shining Foot shall pass
Among the Guests star-scatter'd on the Grass, --
Among the Guests star-scatter'd on the Grass, --
Please note that Adam & Charles Black actually published two editions simultaneously. In 1909, the standard edition cost seven shillings and sixpence, a middle-to-upper-class price. It has a cream-colored, lightly decorated cloth binding. With visible wear and stains, it can be purchased for 50 USD. Copies in better condition can sell for up to 200 USD on dedicated services.
On the other hand, the fine leather binding (the publisher typically offered two types of leather for versions priced at 10 shillings and six pence and 12 shillings and six pence) will very likely cost at least a few hundred dollars, with prices spanning up to over a thousand dollars. To get the highest possible price, all of James's plates must still be present in the book (they are often missing!) and covered with unwrinkled guards. The cloth should also be free of stains. Loose pages or writings are an obvious no-no.
It is unknown how many copies of each binding were printed and brought to market. Since cloth editions were standard for bookshops, leather bindings (also known as gift editions, intended for Christmas gifts) are much scarcer. Note that some collectors used to buy unbound sheets directly from the printer (R. & R. Clark, in this case) or purchase cloth versions and have them bound by high-end private binders. This makes them even more unique. Their initial prices were over 15 shillings (even up to several pounds!), and today, they can be worth way over a thousand dollars.
If you are interested in collectible editions of Persian poetry, we also invite you to browse the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, illustrated by Edmund Dulac. Send your favorite quatrain and a vintage illustration to a dear person to make their day!
On the other hand, the fine leather binding (the publisher typically offered two types of leather for versions priced at 10 shillings and six pence and 12 shillings and six pence) will very likely cost at least a few hundred dollars, with prices spanning up to over a thousand dollars. To get the highest possible price, all of James's plates must still be present in the book (they are often missing!) and covered with unwrinkled guards. The cloth should also be free of stains. Loose pages or writings are an obvious no-no.
It is unknown how many copies of each binding were printed and brought to market. Since cloth editions were standard for bookshops, leather bindings (also known as gift editions, intended for Christmas gifts) are much scarcer. Note that some collectors used to buy unbound sheets directly from the printer (R. & R. Clark, in this case) or purchase cloth versions and have them bound by high-end private binders. This makes them even more unique. Their initial prices were over 15 shillings (even up to several pounds!), and today, they can be worth way over a thousand dollars.
If you are interested in collectible editions of Persian poetry, we also invite you to browse the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, illustrated by Edmund Dulac. Send your favorite quatrain and a vintage illustration to a dear person to make their day!
