Descrizione

8vo. XVIII, (2), 93, (3), 8 pp. (ads). With lithographic frontispiece of "A Persian Girl" sketched on stone by the translator, printed by C. Hullmandel. With an inserted slip. Original boards, rebacked with new spine label. First English edition: a prose version by the British oriental scholar James A. Atkinson (1780-1852). "This is a specimen of Persian humour, a jeu d'esprit, founded upon female customs and superstitions. It pretends to be a grave work, and is in fact a circle of domestic observances, treated with the solemnity of a code of laws" (preface). With a fine lithographic frontispiece drawn by Atkinson, faithfully depicting a "Persian Girl" in traditional dress, with a lute and hookah by her side, her hair adorned. - Provenance: 1) Wilberforce Eames, (1855-1937), U.S. bibliographer and librarian, known as the "Dean of American bibliographers" (his ink ownership to flyleaf); 2) pencil ownership "Wm. Berrian" (?) to flyleaf; 3) bookplate of the Wisconsin Consistory Library to pastedown; 4) Quaritch notation to pastedown (sold by them). A fine copy; scarce. - Wilson 10 & 123. Cat. of the Library of Wilberforce Eames (NY, Anderson Auction, 1905), no. 6247 (this copy).