The Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folktales in the Arabic language, has had a profound influence on world literature and culture over the centuries.
In 1887, the great Gujarati author and journalist Itcharam Suryaram Desai published a Gujarati translation of The Arabian Nights with 130 illustrations. In 1891, the Second Edition of his Gujarati translation was published with 170 illustrations. In 1915, it was thoroughly revised and enlarged by his son Manilal Itcharam Desai; this revised and enlarged Third Edition was sumptuously adorned with over twice the number of sketches i.e. 342 illustrations.
We are now pleased to offer the incredibly rare Revised & Enlarged Third Antiquarian Edition of The Arabian Nights in Gujarati. This encyclopedic book is in two parts with 171 illustrations in each part i.e. 342 illustrations in total. This particular edition featured a 39-page critical monograph on The Arabian Nights by Manilal Itcharam Desai in which he also gave a historical overview of the Gujarati translation of these tales; please refer to the 11th image attached herewith.
The cover of this antiquarian edition was designed by the great artist A. M. Mali, who was a contemporary of M. V. Dhurandhar and Raja Ravi Varma. The cover was unique for its Arabic-inspired Gujarati calligraphy.
Several images of this precious rarity, including the table of contents and the complete list of illustrations of both the parts, are attached herewith for the perusal of those interested.
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS
Translated from English into Gujarati by: Itcharam Suryaram Desai
Edited, Revised and Enlarged by: Manilal Itcharam Desai
Cover Design by: A. M. Mali (his name is written in Arabic-inspired Gujarati calligraphy on the bottom left corner of the front cover; image attached).
Illustrations by: Arthur Boyd Houghton, J. Gerlier, Regnier, Gustave Doré et al.
Language: Gujarati; only the title page is in English as well as in Gujarati.
Printed & Published by: Manilal Itcharam Desai at The Gujarati Printing Press, Bombay, 1915 AD (Vikram Samvat 1971) — Extremely Rare, Revised & Enlarged, Illustrated, Antiquarian Third Edition
Format: Hardcover
Size: 27.1 cm x 19.7 cm x 5 cm — This is a large-format book weighing 2 kg.
Pages in Part One: 1 frontispiece + xii + 46 + vi + 493 pages (including 171 illustrations).
Pages in Part Two: 1 frontispiece + 458 pages (including 171 illustrations).
Total number of pages: 1017 pages (including 342 illustrations).
Condition: Pre-owned. Very Good+ — Excellent. Pages clean and unmarked. Original tight binding reinforced with contemporary endpapers. Natural yellowing/foxing of the pages owing to age. A select few pages have been restored intact with unobtrusive, archival restoration tape; please refer to the penultimate sample image. This book is in remarkably intact condition for a 111-year-old book that was printed on newsprint stock; however, gentle handling is advised for future protection.
Inscription: The original owner's name was rubber-stamped on page no. 265 of Part One; please refer to the last image attached herewith.
Remarks: Painstakingly sourced, this Enlarged, Antiquarian Third Edition is incredibly rare and elusive. In the early twentieth century, such large tomes in Indian languages were invariably printed on newsprint stock to reduce costs; hence, it is exceptionally hard to find in such intact condition as the one we are offering now.
Please email us on kumarclassicbookpoint@gmail.com for cost and availability, or for any further queries in order to serve you better. Delivery in Mumbai is free.
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