THE SECOND VERSION OF THE TRANSLATIONS BY EDWARD FITZGERALD FROM RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM

Wausau, Wisconsin: Printed by Van Vechten & Ellis for The Philosopher Press, 1901. No. 91 OF 100 COPIES PRINTED, A UNIQUE ILLUMINATED COPY. 314 x 250 mm. (12 3/8 x 9 7/8"). [14] French-fold leaves.Translated by Edward FitzGerald.
Attractive three-quarter maroon morocco over marbled boards, raised bands, two compartments with gilt lettering, others with central gilt tool. Housed in a maroon cloth slipcase (slightly worn and faded). Each text page with an elaborate decorative border colored by hand, and AN ORIGINAL SIGNED WATERCOLOR ON VELLUM by Plein tipped-in before title. Title page with watercolor inscription: "Iluminated [sic] by / Charles M. Plein / Omaha Neb. / Oct 1915"; two glossy leaves with examples of the border decoration laid in. ◆Final French-fold leaf cleanly torn along part of the fold at the top (not affecting contents on either side), free endpaper in front and back with just a hint of darkening at edges (apparently from binder's glue), but A FINE COPY--clean and bright throughout in a near-pristine binding.

This is a unique copy of The Philosopher Press' Rubaiyat, enhanced with vibrantly hand-colored borders and a beautiful full-page watercolor illustration heightened with gold illumination. The latter features a man dressed in a turban and holding a scimitar above his head, enveloped in a mix of billowing cloth and smoke or clouds that seem to emanate from a decorative vase below. The scene is framed with a three-quarter border of grapes and vines on a burnished gilt ground, with a gold chalice poised prominently at the top of the composition, recalling motifs from the poetry of Omar Khayyam. Artist Charles M. Plein (1870-1920) worked as the photography colorist at the studio of famed Native American portraitist Frank A. Rinehart, and was also known for his illustrations, bronze sculpture, and costume and set design. The Philosopher Press was founded in 1897 by Philip and Helen Van Vechten, along with partner William Ellis. Helen (1868-1949) originally oversaw the bookkeeping and administrative side of the business, but found herself attracted to the book-making process. She took over the printing shop and, inspired by the Kelmscott Press, set about learning the craft. Although self-taught, she developed impressive skills, even solving a problem that had stumped other hand presses of the day: how to feed deckle-edged paper into a press so as to ensure an even register on both sides of the sheets. Newspapers around the country reported on the feat, marvelling that a woman in central Wisconsin was operating a fine press..