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RUBAIYAT DE OMAR KHAYYAM.
(Paris: L'Edition d'Art H. Piazza Et Cie. [1910]). 302 x 237 mm. (11 7/8 x 9 1/4"). [67] leaves.Translated into French from the English of Edward FitzGerald (second version, 110 quatrains) by Edmund Dulac. No. 505 OF 700 COPIES SIGNED BY THE ILLUSTRATOR.
Appealing three-quarter scarlet crushed morocco over red cloth boards, raised bands with gilt titling and gilt-ruled compartments, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Housed in a felt-lined red cloth slipcase (in excellent condition). 20 tipped-in color plates by Edmund Dulac, framed with green wreath design, each with numbered tissue guard. Potter 425; Paas 4820; Hughley 21cc. Spine just slightly (and evenly) sunned, occasional faint thumb soiling or freckling, but still qualifying as a fine copy.
This is a beautifully presented French translation of FitzGerald's Rubaiyat, with the iconic color illustrations by Edmund Dulac, signed by the artist, and attractively bound. Dulac's sumptuous depictions of Omar Khayyam's quatrains were first published in London in 1909, and have been admired for their immense charm and gorgeous coloring ever since. Dulac also did the translation for this printing, based on the second edition of FitzGerald's English version of the Rubaiyat. Edmund Dulac (1882-1953) studied art at the university in his native Toulouse before emigrating to England at 22, at just the time when the process of color separation was making it possible to print faithfully the glowing colors of his palette. Between 1907, when his "Arabian Nights" appeared, and 1920, his works found an appreciative audience. Influenced by the work of the older artist Arthur Rackham, Dulac's illustrations have a sophisticated and exotic tone with rich color, reminiscent of the paintings of Gustav Klimt. Houfe says, "Dulac was immensely versatile and had more sense of color and design than most of his English contemporaries, excepting Rackham. He looked to the Middle and Far East for inspiration, and his watercolors of legendary subjects have a gemlike brilliance found only in Mogul miniatures, their flat, stylized and sleepy beauty sometimes comes from the Japanese print, sometimes from the Pre-Raphaelites and even occasionally from the Renaissance." After 1920, Dulac, who had become a naturalized British citizen, published several more illustrated fairy tales and also worked as a designer of costumes and sets. (ST17640-117)
Price: $1,500.00 save 50% $750.00