Edwardian Arabian Nights Frederick Warne Illustrated Edition Blue Gilt Cloth with 16 Colour Plates

This is an early twentieth-century illustrated edition of The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, published by Frederick Warne & Co., London and New York, and revised with notes by Rev. George Fyler Townsend, M.A.

Although undated, this attractive edition was most likely produced during the Edwardian period, approximately 1908–1912, and features one of Frederick Warne's most striking decorative publisher's bindings. The vivid cobalt blue cloth is richly decorated in gilt, brown, and black with exotic figures, floral ornament, and stylized lettering inspired by Middle Eastern design. The gilt decoration has been exceptionally well preserved and displays beautifully.

The volume contains many of the timeless stories that have captivated readers for centuries, including Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Sindbad the Sailor, The Merchant and the Genie, The Enchanted Horse, and many others.

Illustrated throughout with numerous black-and-white illustrations together with sixteen full-page colour plates, this edition showcases the fine chromolithographic printing and decorative book design for which Frederick Warne became renowned. The illustrations remain bright and attractive, making this a wonderful display volume as well as an enjoyable reading copy.

Measurements

Height: 8 3/8 inches

Width: 6 1/4 inches

Pages: 540 including index

Condition

Overall, this book is in Very Good condition.

The binding remains tight and square with bright blue cloth and exceptionally well-preserved gilt decoration. The spine has mellowed slightly from exposure, which is typical of books of this age.

The interior is generally clean. There is some foxing to the final index page and rear endpaper, together with occasional light smudging or marginal discolouration affecting a few of the colour plates and the tissue guard opposite the frontispiece. The illustrations themselves remain bright and highly decorative. There may be the odd additional smudge elsewhere, but overall the pages present very well.

Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

This Edwardian edition of one of the world's great collections of adventure stories combines beautiful period bookbinding with charming illustrations, making it an excellent addition to a collection of antique books, illustrated classics, or decorative library volumes.