The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Illustrated by Elihu Vedder, is a dazzling fusion of art and literature that redefined bookmaking. A titan of American art at the turn of the 20th century, Vedder transformed Edward FitzGerald’s translation into a visual masterpiece that set the gold standard for design. Bold, innovative, and timeless, this iconic work remains one of the most celebrated illustrated books ever created.
This is a one-of-a-kind, unnumbered publisher’s review copy—better known as a pre-publication copy—of the original signed, numbered first edition of just 100 to feature Vedder’s illustrations (or, more accurately, 99, as one tragically went down with the Titanic).
What sets this elephant folio apart isn’t just its unnumbered status but its unparalleled provenance: this unique copy remained in the possession of the family of Elihu Vedder, the renowned illustrator, until it was sold to a reputable bookseller with over 50 years of experience in the trade, circa 2015. As an association copy with such a direct connection to Vedder, its rarity and significance are magnified tenfold. Adding to its distinctiveness, this copy deviates from the first edition’s hallmark “unopened” pages. Instead, it includes blank pages in between, where the first editions would have been bound together, a striking feature that underscores its unique pre-publication status.
Bound in full light grey cloth, this copy features elegant spine and cover designs stamped in bright blue, gold, and blind embossing, a testament to Vedder’s artistic vision. The book’s edges shimmer with gilding, and its pages, printed on luxurious Japanese paper, represent the apex of 19th-century bookmaking.
Released on November 8, 1884, the first edition sold out in just six days, heralded as a landmark in American art and book design. It secured Vedder’s legacy as one of the most significant artist-illustrators of his time. This copy, however, is singular. In addition to its unique blank interleaving and association provenance, it includes an additional Vedder “accompaniment” (his preferred term, eschewing “illustration”) not found in the numbered editions. Created in pencil, ink, chalk, and watercolor on tinted paper, these 57 accompaniments represent an innovative fusion of classical Greco-Roman, Symbolist, and even Art Nouveau styles. Vedder spent 11 months in Rome while creating the illustrations for this book.
Vedder’s meticulous craftsmanship extended beyond the illustrations to every facet of the book: The 101 quatrains are presented on 47 paired plates, with additional drawings embellishing the endpapers, title page, and notes. This was no mere book; it was an artistic statement.
Condition: Exceptional. The interior is pristine, bright, and clean with some staining on the bottom corner of the title page. The light grey boards retain their understated elegance, with the blue and gold embellishments remarkably vibrant.
