The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

The illustrated library edition of the first complete translation of the Arabian Nights, the historic folk-tales that have shaped world literature The celebrated illustrated library edition of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, otherwise known as The Arabian Nights, the classic Medieval tales of Arabian origin, translated by the eminent British explorer Richard Francis Bruton, reprinted from the original edition edited by Leonard C. Smithers. Published in 1897, with Smithers's first edition being from 1894. A complete set of twelve volumes. In the publisher's original uniform gilt decorated black cloth, with all seventy-one plates of re-producted oil paintings by British aritist Albert Letchford, including a frontispiece to each volume. Collated complete. The first and only complete translation of the Arabian Nights, Burton brought the many epic folk-tales and fables from the Golden-Age of Islam to the West. Despite its sexual imagery being too obscene for many Victorian critics, the translation has had a remarkable impact on world literature since. This edition is particularly popular for Letchford's illustrations bringing the stories to life. - Volume I: Includes King Shahryar and His Brother, The Portress, and The Hunchback's Tale amongst others. Contains plates 1-11.- Volume II: Includes King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons, The Hermits and The Fox and the Crow amongst others. Contains plates 12-17.- Volume III: Includes Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman, The Mock Caliph, and the Ebony Horse amongst others. Contains plates 18-26.- Volume IV: Includes The Queen of the Serpents, The Story of Janshah, and The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad amongst others. Contains plates 27-32.- Volume V: Includes The City of Brass, Judar and His Brethren, and The Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo amongst others. Contains plates 26-40.- Volume VI: Includes Hasan of Bassorah, Kalifah the Fisherman of Baghdad, and Julnar the Sea-Born amongst others. Contains plates 41-46.- Volume VII: Includes Miriam the Girdle-Girl, The Ruined Man of Baghdad and Abu Kir the Dyer amongst others. Contains plates 47-53.- Volume VIII: Includes Ma'aruf The Cobbler and His Wife Fatimah, as well as essays on the Nights, including author and date amongst others. Contains plates 54-57.- Volume IX: Includes The Sleeper and the Waker, the Ten Wazirs, and The Ugly Man and His Beautiful Wife amongst others. Contains plates 58-61.- Volume X: Includes Alaeddin, History of Sidi Nu'uman, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves amongst others. Contains plates 62-65.- Volume XI: Includes Kazi and His Slipper, History of the First Larrikin and The Merchant's Daughter and the Prince of Al-Irak amongst others. Contains plates 66-68.- Volume XII: Includes History of Prince Habib, Haykar the Sage, and The Warlock and the Young Cook of Baghdad. Contains plates 69-71. In the publisher's original uniform gilt decorated black cloth. Externally, smart, with minimal marks to boards. Bumping to the heads and tails of the spines, heavier to head of IV and to V, and to the extremities. Small dents to spines of IV, near head of rear joint, V and VIII, below spine label. A couple of faint marks to spine heads, and minor rubbing marks to joints to I, II, IX, and XI. Minimal marks to end papers. Publisher's insert tipped in to front end paper hinges of II-III, VI-VIII and XI-XII. Internally, firmyl bound. Several leaves unopened to IX. Pages are bright and mostly clean, with a couple of faint spots to immediate first and final leaves. Very Good.…