[Binding, Fine- Sangorski and Sutcliffe Masterpiece Peacock Jeweled Binding] Omar Khayyam

London: A. C. Benson, [1910].

Quarto (12 x 8 inches). Magnificent jeweled peacock binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe in full straight-grained red morocco featuring a central oval recessed panel of dark green morocco with a peacock taking up over half of the front cover. The peacock's body is inlaid in light green, blue, white and brown morocco, with tail feathers fully outspread over green morocco inlays, and intricately tooled in gilt as they splay outward, with inlaid blue hearts and set at the very end with 31 amethysts and citrines. Both covers with heavy gilt rose and grass motif, including rose bouquet corner-pieces and blue morocco gilt inlaid borders. Spine gilt in six compartments, lettering, gilt-decorated floral and grape onlay panels. Turn-ins gilt, full blue morocco doublures, blue moire silk flyleaves. With two superb brass clasps set with three jewels each (one of the six is chipped). No. 3 of only 10 copies, specially bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, with an original unpublished watercolor composition by E. Geddes, illustrating Quatrain XIII with an illuminated border by Sangorski and Sutcliffe and painted on vellum especially for this copy. With the gilt binder's signature in the rear turn-in: "Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, London." All edges superbly and masterfully goffered with all-over scrolling vine and blossom pattern with stippling. Fine condition. One of the most beautiful bindings we have ever had the pleasure to own, and arguably a perfect model Sangorski and Sutcliffe binding, typifying the very finest craft in bookbinding over the past century and more, in the revival of book arts and bookbinding, worldwide.

Price: $85,000.00   Item #6246