Fidousi Firdousï | Champion, Joseph (trans.)

The poems of Ferdosi. I (all published).

Calcutta, printed by John Hay, 1785. 4to. xii + ii + 316 pp. Contemporary Indian binding in terracotta-coloured calf, with the London bookseller’s ticket of Howell & Stewart to front pastedown, boards ruled in gilt with gilt decorative surround, board edges gilt, spine with elaborate gilt decoration and tools, green morocco title label, edges stained blue. A few ms. corrections in ink to text in a single hand, likely that of Champion. Title-leaf bound after the list of subscribers (as in three copies described by Shaw (1987). A translation of books i–viii of the Shahnama Shähnäma or “Book of Kings”, a complete history of Persia in nearly 60,000 verses by Fidousi Firdousï (b. 941 A. D.) preceded by an “Essay on the life and writings of Ferdosi” on pp. 1–48. The entire poem (which only existed in ms. up to the beginning of the 19th century) was published with a French translation in a magnificent folio edition at the expense of the French government in 1831–68. The preliminary leaves contain i.a. the author’s dedication to Sir William Jones, dedicatory verses to him, and a list o 73 subscribers, notable among them Warren Hastings (who took ten copies), John Macpherson (then Governor of India), Sir Robert Chambers and Sir William Jones. Rare first edition of any part of the national epic of Iran in English.“Ill-health apparently prevented Champion from completing the translation, so that this was the only volume ever published. Although the exact date of its publication has not been ascertained, this may very well have been the earliest work printed by John Hay in Calcutta” (Graham Shaw). Zenker, 1, 529. Graham Shaw, Printing in Calcutta to 1800, London, The Bibliographical Society, 1981, 41. Graham Shaw, The South Asia and Burma retrospective bibliography […]. Stage 1: 1556–1800, [London], The British Library, 1987, p 162.

• GBP 6,000.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 04889

• bookseller: Lowendahl Rare Books Ltd (THAILAND)