The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night [12 Volumes of the Kamashastra edition]

Leonard C Smithers and translated by Richard F Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, London: Printed by H.S. Nichols & Co., 1897

In 12 volumes
xxxii, 416 including 7 black and white plates; viii, [2] 431 including 7 black and white plates; x, [2] 444 including 9 black and white plates; x, [2] 420 including 6 black and white plates; viii, [2] 400 including 8 black and white plates; [6] 1-408 including 6 black and white plates; viii, [2] 406 including 7 black and white plates; xii, [2] 424 including 4 black and white plates; xiii, [3] 444 including 4 black and white plates; xii, [2] 479 including 4 black and white plates; ix, [3] 495 including 3 black and white plates; xxiv, 399 pp. including 3 black and white plates

Bound in publisher’s deluxe Style C binding as described in the original prospectus: Three-quarter Damascus red levant morocco (from Angora goat skins, sumac tanned), with five raised bands and gilt-tooled spines featuring Grolier-style cornerpieces and arabesque motifs; gold-ruled sides, silk headbands, triple-cord stitching, hollow backs, reinforced joints, and gold-veined endpapers; all edges gilt. Arabic calligraphy referencing the word “Layla” (meaning “night”), a nod to the original title Alf Layla wa-Layla ) translating to One Thousand and One Nights at the head and foot of spines (each)

Housed in the original purpose-made brown morocco casket, known as the “coffin” case, measuring approximately 23 x 12.5 x 8.5 in, with the interior lined in silk moiré with a folding front flap and fitted cavity. The design allowed for horizontal tabletop display or upright shelf storage. The casket features a decorative pierced orientalist brass lockplate and was originally issued with a spring-lock key of Islamic design. Lid stamped in gilt Arabic (Alf Layla wa Layla – A Thousand and One Nights)
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