Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-27
LOST WITH THE TITANIC.
Copy Of Rubaiyat Called Finest Exnm-
pie Of Hook Printing.
london Corr. New York Sun. J

What has been described as the most
elaborate volume in the world went down
in the Titanic. as was reported by cable
decorated copy of Edward FitzGeraIds
translation of the "Rubaiyat OF Omar
lihayyam."
When It was offered for sale in Lon
don recently it's beauty attracted wide
attention and there was surprise when
1t was sold for so.05. It was purchased
by Mr. Isaacs. Pccadilly bookseller
who shipped 1t to America BY the Titanic
in the hope of effecting a sale there.
FIRST VALUED AT 5000.
Last year this art treasure was Of
fered for sale at 5000. but no purchaser
was forthcoming. and It was sent to
Sothehy's. where Mr. Isaacs bought 1t
on March 20. BY a mschance due 20 the
| coal strike II did not go to America on
the mail steamer Of April 6, by which It
was to have been sent. Its departure
was DELAYED until the next outgoing
steamer for the United States, and tina,
steamer was the Titanic.
From the standpoint Of intrinsic value
alone, Mi lsaacs got a bargain IN this
gorgeous "Rubayat," for the original
cost of tho binding was $3.50" or $40
more than he paid for It. II took nearly
two years to produce the work. which
was a brilliant example of inlaying and
gold tooling. Fortunately. those who cx-
| ecu.ed it preserved all their sketches
and designs, and there Is a Flint that
t,cy may attemp. to reproduce IT.
vEDDrsR THE ILLUSTRATOR.
Elihu Veddcr was the illustrator and
the work was executed by Sangorski and
Sutcline in green levant and morocco
leather
Surrounding the panel was border
and cornerpiece suggestive in color and
design OF Orienta! decorating 1t was set
with $50 garnets. turquoises and oivines.
The design was completed with border
representing a conventional treatment
o. n vine inlald in brown and greer and
set with $50 amethysts arranged a.
to form punches OF grapes
The back cover also was ella bora tely
treated It was divided into a number
of sunken panels Of Persian designs and
shape. and these were filled closely with
! gold foliage and set with 1875 turquoises.
tire panel was model. complete IN
every detail of a Persian mandolin made
) Of mahogany. and inlail with silver,
pearl. satin wood and ebony. And the
whaleback covering was completed with a
border composed OF graceful lines and
many dots.
FRONT AND PANELS.
The front doublure was divided into z
number of sunken panels The centra
, lpanel. whose dominating feature was &
= snake modelled and inlad in variou:
a colored feathers with ivory teeth anc
l emerald eyes, was intended as a susses
q ten Of stanza 5s, 20 Thou. who man o.
v baser earth didst make"
4 This was surrounded and entwincC
4 among conventional ARRANGEMENT o
9 an apple tree, with the sun suggested il
q solid gold peeping through the foliage
r The whole Of the background was fille'
: closely with gold dots throwing the de
r sign into relief. hut not boldly. Thi
: panel was intended also to be an en-
:. blematical suggestion Of life.
!. The corner and side panels held forty
:. eight turquoses and garnets and wer
e filled closely with foliage. An elaborat
lrlaid border of an Oriental characte
completed the design
g The design OF the back doublure wa
intended to be cmblcmatic OF death. I
: the sunken panel on the doublure ap
lpeared a representation OF Il skull =
v leather with the teeth OF carved ivory
All this is framed In an elaborate horde
If of interiaced in laid bands Of foliage. A
in,ricate inlaid strapwork border with a
inlaid rose in TIE corners comprised tn
decoration Of the front by leaf. The ros
Y, was intended to carry out the sugEestio
,r OF life at the beginning of the book. III
back fly leaf, while similar in gener,
t, appearance to the front, shows In tn
corner design an Intention to sugge.
death through a conventional treatmer
? of the deadly nightshade.