2005, ISBN: 88b8d4fa5e554f76311c3ba490af3bb2

London: Charles Knight and Co.,, 1839-41. A highly attractive copy of this important translation First Lane edition, in a most handsome contemporary binding in the Bedford style. Lane's … mais…

London: Charles Knight and Co.,, 1839-41. A highly attractive copy of this important translation First Lane edition, in a most handsome contemporary binding in the Bedford style. Lane's rendition, one of the earliest in English, "reigned as the leading English translation of the Nights for decades, and its copious notes are stimulating micro-essays of enduring value" (ODNB). Lane (1801-1876) became fascinated with Egypt as a young man and made his first trip there aged 24 in 1825, "intending to earn his living as a lithographer and looking for picturesque material to reproduce" (Irwin, p. 23). He immersed himself fully in his adopted culture, learning Arabic, wearing local dress, and mixing primarily with the local people. Based in Cairo, he came to believe that the stories of the Arabian Nights "admirably reflected and illustrated a way of life that still continued in the city" (ibid.) and started work on his translation using the Bulaq edition (1835), the first printed in the Arab world, as his guide. "Because he aimed to produce an instructional work, his translation carries an enormous baggage of footnotes – on cloves, graveyards, gypsum, chess, hippopotami, laws of inheritance, perspiration, polygamy, rubbish tips and much, much more" (ibid., p. 24). The illustrations, of which there are over 600, were provided by a team of engravers under the supervision of William Harvey (1796-1866), who was a favourite pupil of Thomas Bewick. Harvey "collaborated very closely with Lane in preparing his drawings and drew heavily on his collection of Oriental costumes and household articles for the purpose"; as a result, "Harvey's illustrations had a considerable share in the popularity of the work" (Muir, pp. 30-1). Two volumes of this strikingly handsome set carry the ticket of the London bookseller and stationer W. Griffith; Charles Ramsden lists him in his book on London bookbinders, noting that "the binding in trade mor[occo] in the Bedford style appeared to me to be an 'edition' binding, and I doubt if it was executed by Griffith" (pp. 74-5). 3 volumes, large octavo (243 x 150 mm). Contemporary green morocco, spines gilt-lettered direct in second and fourth compartments, others richly gilt, sides with gilt thick fillet border enclosing ornamental frame composed of scrolling foliate tools, pale yellow surface-paper endpapers, edges gilt. Wood-engraved title page in each volume, illustrated throughout with wood engravings designed by William Harvey. Ownership signature of one F. Gordon Scott on first blank of each volume. Light sunning to spines and rubbing to extremities, inner hinges split (some only partially), book blocks remaining firm, occasional spotting, largely clean. A very good copy indeed. Robert Irwin, The Arabian Nights: A Companion, 2005; Percy Muir, Victorian Illustrated Books, 1985; Charles Ramsden, London Bookbinders, 1780-1840, 1987., 1839-41, 0<

1866, ISBN: 88b8d4fa5e554f76311c3ba490af3bb2

London, Charles Knight, 1841 [volume II] 1840. Three volumes in large 8vo. Contemporary blue half-calf over watered cloth boards by Sharpe & Kellet of Liverpool, spines decorated in g… mais…

London, Charles Knight, 1841 [volume II] 1840. Three volumes in large 8vo. Contemporary blue half-calf over watered cloth boards by Sharpe & Kellet of Liverpool, spines decorated in gilt and with red moroccco-lettering pieces, marbled endpapers; pp. xxxii, 618; xii, 643; xii, 763, wood-engraved titles in pagination, copiously illustrated throughout with superb wood-engravings; light wear to extremities, preliminaries occasionally lightly spotted, a solid and attractive set. First edition of volumes two and three, early reprint of the first volume. The first English version of the vast corpus of Arabian fairy and folk tales to be translated directly from the Arabic, immensely influencial on British imagination of life, myth and culture of the Arabic World. Lane had lived for years in Egypt, was a superior Arabist and deeply immersed in Arabic culture. Being a trained illustrator himself, Lane supervised the work of William Harvey (1796-1866) a favoured pupil of Bewick, the inventor of wood-engraving. Lane believed that the corpus 'presented "most admirable pictures of the manners and customs of the Arabs, and particularly of those of the Egyptians" (Lane, Modern Egyptians, 1.vi n.). It reigned as the leading English translation of the Nights for decades, and its copious notes are stimulating micro-essays of enduring value' (ODNB)., 0<

1841, ISBN: 88b8d4fa5e554f76311c3ba490af3bb2

Edição encadernada

[SC: 44.07], [PU: Charles Knight, London], BOOK ARTS, (XXXII) 618, 643, 763 pages. 25 x 16 cm. Bound by Zaehnsdorf. Hundreds of engravings on wood by William Harvey. Index. Lane, a noted … mais…

[SC: 44.07], [PU: Charles Knight, London], BOOK ARTS, (XXXII) 618, 643, 763 pages. 25 x 16 cm. Bound by Zaehnsdorf. Hundreds of engravings on wood by William Harvey. Index. Lane, a noted Oriental scholar resided many years in Egypt in the early 19th century also authored a valuable Arabic lexicon. "William Harvey (1796-1866) was Bewick's favorite pupil,andby all accounts, a most amiable man,onewho reachedthetop ofthetree as both engraverandartist." Laneadded abundantandscholarly notes, elucidating terms, explaining customsandillustrating points of Islamic faith, which were later assembled to form a book entitled Arabian Society intheMiddle Ages.Thetranslation was almost entirely fromtheArabic edition ofthetext published at Bulaq in Cairo in 1835. He was unquestionably the most eminent English Arabist of his time. Raised bands, panels elaborately decorated in gold motifs with a center oval in brown, matching the spine labels also in brown and gilt lettered. Triple gilt border panels, inner dentelles and marbled endpapers. First few leaves of Vol.1 very lightly toned. Black polished calf. Teg. Fine. 3 Vols<