The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
1931 Medici Society Original Persian Drawings J.V.S. Wilkinson Introduction Edition
This 1931 edition is from The Medici Society and has an introduction from J.V.S Wilkinson, of the British Museum. It illustrates via Persian (well, according to the introduction one is Indian “though probably by a Persian artist”) drawings that convey the Rubaiyat’s aesthetic/vibes.
As far as I can tell, it doesn’t articulate their exact providence or origin or original purpose, just alludes to it in the introduction. I would hazard a guess that they came from the British Museum in some capacity as J.V.S. Wilkinson did work there and was a “specialist of Persian and Mughal painting”. I attempted to look for them but realized it was going to be a needle in the haystack situation. If anyone can identify the illustrations I photographed, send me an email!
The cover has a floral pattern.
Publisher: The Medici Society (London, Great Britain)
Press: The Crypt House Press Ltd., Gloucester and London.
Year: 1931
Artist: Unknown/Various (?)
Introduction(s) by: J.V.S. Wilkinson
Added to Site: 2025-07-16
The Book Itself
I included the whole introduction because it was interesting.
The Poetry
The Illustrations
Before the art itself, it has a page with a line from the quatrain it is belonging to. I am terming it the ‘Text Emphasis’.
