WILLY POGANY'S RUBAIYAT, GORGEOUSLY ILLUSTRATED AND BOUND

(POGANY, Willy) KHAYYAM, Omar. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Presented by Willy Pogany. London: George G. Harrap, (1909). Quarto, contemporary full brown morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and covers, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $2000.

First edition to be illustrated by Willy Pogany, with 24 tipped-in color plates, decorative initials, calligraphy and page borders by Pogany. Beautifully bound in full morocco-gilt by Mudie.

Khayyam's "brief verses vary in theme… from sophisticated satires on the unreasonableness of human passion to the passionate lyrics on the joys and sorrows of love and wine and on the wisdom of grasping pleasure while we can" (Hornstein, Percy and Brown 377). This popular illustrated gift volume was issued many times in the coming years, though often with fewer than the 24 color plates found here. The signed limited edition of 1930 was issued with only 12 of the color plates.

A splendid volume in fine condition.