TWO rather visually unimpressive lots were nevertheless keenly pursued in the same sale at Bonhams in March.
Edward Fitzgerald’s translation into English verse of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, the Persian astronomerpoet, was not a success when first published in 1859 by London bookseller Bernard Quaritch.
Produced at the translator’s expense in an edition of just 250 copies, it was slow to sell and two years on – having already lost some copies during a move – Quaritch consigned those remaining to the ‘Penny’ bin outside his shop. Some may later have been destroyed.