Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Illustrated and Decorated by E. A. Cox

F. Lewis Publishers., 1945, colour illustrations, decorated in text (red), decorated title page, hardcover with decorative stamping to front cover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, minor foxing, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing, chipping, small tears and small holes at folds, foxing and grubbiness to jacket (see photographs)

“In this edition Fitzgerald’s poem has been reprinted in its most popular style – that is, it is a reprint of the earliest form of this poem, which has distinctive merits of its own.
The first edition of the translation of Omar Khayyam appeared in 1859 (Quaritch) but met with little success, found its way into  the “Penny-box” to be eventually rediscovered, since when it has been published in many editions and illustrated by many artists.
Omar Khayyam was one of the most distinguished of the Poets of Persia.  He was born at Nishapur, in the North East of Persia, in the latter half of our eleventh century.  He was unprecedented in regard to the freedom of his religious opinions and may be called the Voltaire of Persia.  Much of his time was devoted to astronomy.  His critics asserted that this study of astronomy prompted him to disbelief in the power of the Supreme Being.  His Rubaiyat was the result of his profound reflections on this subject.  Next to nothing is known of his life or the society in which he moved so that we cannot gain an intimate conception of his character.  Too date of his death is not authenticated but is thought to have occurred in the first quarter of our twelfth century.”