Condition Very Good, 270 x 205 mm. (10 5/8 x 8"). 171 pp. [2] leaves.Translated by Edward FitzGerald. Introduction by George Saintsbury. Excellent teal crushed morocco, some bleaching to sppine, floral medallion in gilt and colors on upper cover, raised bands, gilt titling, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. Limited edition number written in ink (578) . With black & white designs in the text, 45 black & white mounted headpieces, 12 mounted color plates, all by Pogany, and AN ORIGINAL ETCHING SIGNED BY THE ARTIST. Text printed on rectos. A fine copy in an unworn binding. Printed on high quality, lushly thick paper, this limited edition has an abundance of attractive features: 75 quatrains from the 1859 first edition of FitzGerald's translation, 101 quatrains from the 1879 fourth edition, 12 new color plates, 45 small versions of earlier Pogany illustrations (used here as headpieces), and an extra signed etching that seems to be an alternate version of the frontispiece. Pogany first illustrated the Rubaiyat for publisher George Harrap in 1909, as the first in the firm's series of "Books Beautiful." The 12 cinematic color illustrations are new to this edition and reflect the influence of Jazz Age fashion and beauty standards. The added etching appears to be a variant on the frontispiece, showing a beautiful nude woman giving a kneeling man a drink from an urn. In the frontispiece, the couple are in an open doorway, but the etching shows them before a hazy background, with the sinister hooded figure of Death looking on, holding a sword. The Hungarian-born Pogany (1882-1955) was especially drawn to exotic subjects, and interpreted the Rubaiyat in pictures several times. He immigrated to America in 1914, where he found success as an illustrator and set designer for the Metropolitan Opera and Broadway productions. A contemporary review of this edition in the December 1930 issue of "The Bookman" praised Pogany's "distinctive illustrations," saying "the plates are the work of a finished artist steeped in his subject, full of romance and a subtle understanding of the poem. It is a beautiful book.". No. 578 OF 750 COPIES for England (and 500 for America) SIGNED BY THE ILLUSTRATOR