WILLY POGÁNY'S BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED RUBAIYAT, IN A PEACOCK FEATHER BINDING
POGÁNY, Willy. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. London: George G. Harrap & Co. (printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son Ltd), [circa 1920]. Octavo, contemporary full brown morocco blind-stamped and gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, decorated endpapers, top edge gilt, uncut. $950.
Attractive edition of Willy Pogány's illustrated Rubaiyat, with 24 mounted color plates and intricate in-text decorations, in a lovely art nouveau binding with stylized peacock feathers in gilt and blind stamping.
Hungarian-born Pogány "specialized in gift book embellishment both before and after the First World War" (Harthan, 242). He first illustrated this 12th-century Persian poem in 1909. This edition uses Edward Fitzgerald's esteemed 1859 translation. See Greer 21i. Armorial bookplate.
Pages evenly toned, plates clean; very slight wear to leather. A lovely copy.