1930 The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam [Signed Limited Edition]

Scarce limited edition of 750 copies for England and 500 for the US, this being copy 335 of the English issue. Signed TWICE by the artist. The Rubaiyat is an 11th-century meditative poem by celebrated Persian astronomer-poet and polymath Omar Khayyam, a singular composer who perfected the quatrain. Illustrated by a Wuthering Books favourite artist, Willy Pogany, whose heavy art nouveau influences and fondness for whimsy make the perfect match for the celestial magic of Khayyam's work. This very special edition is twice signed by the artist, the first in ink under the edition acknowledgement, and again in pencil under the frontispiece.

Pogany is a highly collectable illustrator whose prolific output covers a multitude of genres from classic poetry and novels to early 20th-century children's booklets. Signatures are consistently sought after, particularly for finely bound editions. 12 tipped-in mounted colour plates in fine condition, accompanied by a plethora of black and white vignettes.

In very good condition, spine sunned with rubbed ends and ridges, corners a little rubbed. Pencil inscription to ffep states the item was presented as a retirement gift to an insurance officer, Robert Jamieson, in 1938. Bound in peacock-blue Morocco leather stamped with a gilt and red-brushed central crest to the front cover, marbled endpapers, gilt top edge with others untrimmed. A beautiful item. 27 x 20 cm. Pp. 173, [3].