RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM; AND THE SALAMAN AND ABSAL OF JAMI RENDERED INTO ENGLISH VERSE

London: Bernard Quaritch, 1879. Fourth Edition. 178 x 128 mm. (7 x 5"). 2 p.l., xv, [1], 112 pp.Translated by Edward FitzGerald.
LOVELY HIGHLY ORNAMENTED GREEN MOROCCO BY ZAEHNSDORF (signed on front pastedown, and with oval stamp at rear), COVERS VERY ELABORATELY GILT WITH AN ALL-OVER PATTERN OF ELEGANT ARCHING TENDRILS, LEAVES, AND FLOWERS, the covers bordered with scalloped, dotted, and plain rules enclosing a fine scrolling floral and foliate frame, and this frame around a large central panel with four vertical rows of floral and foliate tools on scrolling tendrils, flat spine similarly decorated and with titling and date, inner gilt dentelles repeating the scrolling floral and foliate frame from the covers, yellow silk endpapers, all edges gilt (head compartment of spine with neat repair). Frontispiece after a Persian miniature, tailpieces, text borders with floral ornaments at corners. With bookplate of Edna Holbrook Barger (engraved by noted bookplate artist William Hopson in 1904) on front pastedown and ink signature, "Edna" on front flyleaf. Potter 141; Paas 3841. ◆Spine evenly sunned to brown (as very often with green morocco), perhaps a hint of the same on covers (though difficult to tell because of all the gilt decoration), the beginning of wear to the joints, small glue spot to verso of front free endpaper, other trivial imperfections, but still quite an appealing copy--internally clean, fresh, and bright, and in a binding that shimmers with gold.

In addition to containing the famous Rubaiyat, this exceedingly pretty volume includes "Salaman and Absal," a narrative poem in which the hero, rejecting the snare of the senses personified by the lovely Absal, moves on the path toward Sufi enlightenment, with much exotic and picturesque detail along the way. The translations of these two Persian poets, Omar Khayyam (d. 1123) and Jami (15th century), were done by FitzGerald (1809-93), whose entire adult life was devoted to literature, especially translation. The binding here represents a level of achievement and sense of ordered animation synonymous with the London-based firm of Zaehnsdorf. The riotous floral decoration to the covers is based on a fabric design by William Morris. This appealing volume was owned by the daughter of wealthy New York lawyer and railroad financier Samuel T. Barger. Educated at Brearley School in New York, Edna Holbrook Barger in 1891 received a certificate for passing the exam given by Harvard University to applicants for admission; as a woman, she was not eligible to attend Harvard, but she could attend courses in Cambridge given by Harvard faculty under the auspices of the Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women, or else use the certificate to gain admission to Vassar, Wellesley, or Bryn Mawr Colleges..