Created by Em Anderson on Sat, 05/24/2025 - 01:35
Description:
This edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám boasts various fascinating qualities. Published in 1930 by Illustrated Editions Company in New York, this edition pulls from the first and fifth versions of Edward FitzGerald’s translations of the poem; each stanza is accompanied by a stunning illustration by illustrator EJ Sullivan.
Looking first to the publisher, Illustrated Editions Company, NY was a publishing house in operation from 1929 to 1942. This company released three series of publications at different times throughout their operative period. The Illustrated Editions series (1930-42) was sold at Macy’s under the name Macy Classics. A series marked as the Arden Library (1933-37) was sold (likely exclusively) at the Concord bookstore in Times Square, NY. A third series appears under the name Cameo Classics between 1935 and 1948, but these books were likely reprints of illustrated classics branded with the Cameo name (A Series of Series).
As far as I can figure, my particular edition would have belonged to the Illustrated Editions Series. The article from which I have been pulling this information features an image of the book Chinese Love Tales, published by the same company as part of the same series, which features a nearly identical cover to my edition of the Rubáiyát, with a blue patterned cover joined to a tan spine and binding with a pressed illustration gracing the front cover (A Series of Series). In accordance with this series, the book features an advertisement that details a list of other books available from the Illustrated Editions series on its penultimate page. A point of contradiction I have discovered: in this reference article, the quality of the books is noted to be “quite nice for their .69 cent price.” In the final page of my edition, however, there is a note at the bottom specifying that each copy, pertaining to the Illustrated Gift Editions and the tex titles it advertises, would cost .49 cents per copy, with an additional .05 cents for postage (Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám).
Turning to the illustrator, EJ Sullivan (1869-1933) boasts an impressive array of work and achievements. Both he and his brother, illustrator James Frank Sullivan, studied under their father, Michael Sullivan, an artist. In his work at the Daily Graphic, he was recognized for his skill, but ultimately fired for being “too artistic,” but was recognized for being “one of the most innovative and original of the black and white artists of the 1890s.” He based his distinctive artistic style in a freely drawn form reminiscent of handwriting, and used shading to denote form and broad dynamic. The time period in which he worked “coincided with the introduction of the line block and halftone reproductive processes. Sullivan worked extensively in book commissions beginning in the 1890s, illustrating novels such as this edition of the Rubáiyát; the breadth of his work engendered considerable respect and renown, especially among his fellow artists. Notably, he also held positions such as “President of the Art Workers’ Guild (1931) and member of the Council of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Engravers” (Peppin).
During the years in which he was actively working, Sullivan’s illustrations would have been available for reproduction through methods of stereotype printing and lithography, and in the latter years of his career, through line block (illustrations) and halftone (photography) reproduction methods. Based on the date and appearance of this edition of the Rubáiyát, I feel that it is likely accurate to say that the images were produced using methods of either line block, lithography, or stereotype methods of reproduction. I cannot find anything definitive on the subject, but in exploring listings for prints from the artist that are currently for sale, the most common mediums are offset print, pen and ink, and etching.
Works Cited
“Illustrated Editions.” https://seriesofseries.com/illustrated-editions/
Khayyam, Omar. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, tr.Edward Fitzgerald, illustrator EJ Sullivan.
Peppin, Brigid, et al. Book Illustrators of the Twentieth Century. Arco Pub., 1984.
Prints, various. https://www.invaluable.com/artist/sullivan-edmund-j-xpqbom7blo/sold-at-auction-prices/?srsltid=AfmBOoqyK9L9-_K15nUxX6WtnsRtuoDR7ArAPA3W0AjRap7sXXSfDeoq