Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam -
Omar Khayyám, Ronald Balfour (illustrator)
1920 - Constable and Company Limited, London - First Edition to be illustrated by Balfour
An elegantly bound edition of the Persian poem of life by the renowned 11th century philosopher, poet, mathematician, and astronomer Omar Khayyám, the first to be exquisitely illustrated by Ronal Balfour, with tipped-on plates, six in colour and thirty-two black and white, many of which are subtly highlighted in colour, together with numerous in text vignettes.
Come fill the cup, and in the fire of spring
Your winter garment of repentance fling:
The bird of time has but a little way
To flutter – and the bird is on the wing. Provenance: with the elegant bookplate of Robert Marceau (1925-2000) a collector fo fine bindings, quoting Cicero’s ‘Pro Archia’ - ‘Haec studia adolescentiam acuunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugiam ac solacium praebent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, pregrinantur, rusticantur.’ [These pursuits sharpen youth, delight in old age, adorn our good fortune, provide refuge and solace in adversity, pleasure at home, do not hinder abroad, spend the night with us, they travel abroad, they live in the country (with apologies)].
Ronald Egerton Balfour (1896–1941), the British illustrator and costume designer, was best known for these illustrations of the Rubáiyát.
Quarto (binding size 26x19.8cm). Finely bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe in full black levant morocco, spine ruled and lettered in gilt in compartments, raised bands, boards with twin gilt filet borders, edges and turn-ins ruled in gilt, brightly marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Condition: Fine in fine binding. Ref: 112418 Price: HK$ 12,000
Come fill the cup, and in the fire of spring
Your winter garment of repentance fling:
The bird of time has but a little way
To flutter – and the bird is on the wing. Provenance: with the elegant bookplate of Robert Marceau (1925-2000) a collector fo fine bindings, quoting Cicero’s ‘Pro Archia’ - ‘Haec studia adolescentiam acuunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugiam ac solacium praebent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, pregrinantur, rusticantur.’ [These pursuits sharpen youth, delight in old age, adorn our good fortune, provide refuge and solace in adversity, pleasure at home, do not hinder abroad, spend the night with us, they travel abroad, they live in the country (with apologies)].
Ronald Egerton Balfour (1896–1941), the British illustrator and costume designer, was best known for these illustrations of the Rubáiyát.
Quarto (binding size 26x19.8cm). Finely bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe in full black levant morocco, spine ruled and lettered in gilt in compartments, raised bands, boards with twin gilt filet borders, edges and turn-ins ruled in gilt, brightly marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Condition: Fine in fine binding. Ref: 112418 Price: HK$ 12,000