Apr 19, 2007 - Sale 2110

Sale 2110 - Lot 35

Price Realized: $ 3,840
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,200 - $ 1,800
FORE PLAY (FORE-EDGE PAINTING.) Sa'di, Sheik Muslihu'd-din. The Gulistan; or, Rose Garden. Translated by Edward B. Eastwick. Chromolithographed frontispiece and end plate, some text leaves with decorative borders, all after illuminations in early Persian manscripts. Small 4to, contemporary black morocco with stamped arabesque panel surrounded by triple borders on covers, and gilt turn-ins, by E. Y. Howell, spine faded; split between 2Q4 and 2R, dampstaining to lower portion of plates; owner's bookplates on front endpapers. Ghani1, page 587. Hertford, 1852
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Additional Details

with three erotic paintings adorning the top, fore, and bottom edges. The participants are in 19th century European dress (or undress), and interiors. The fore edge shows an orgy scene, while the top and bottom edges show one couple. It is probable that the paintings were also created in the mid-to-late 19th century based on the style and colors. Multiple-edge paintings are difficult to execute and are quite uncommon. The artist likely chose this famous 13th century Persian work of instructional tales through prose and poetry because many translations, including Eastwick's, tended to exaggerate an erotic tone.