The Arabian Nights.

Early illustrated edition. A rare and early illustrated edition of the Arabian Nights, or the Arabian Nights Entertainments, present here with illustrations by Richard Westall (1765-1836). Westall was a prolific book illustrator, elected into the R. A. in 1794 and drawing master to Queen Victoria later in life. The illustrations in this edition of the Arabian Nights are all from original drawings by Westall and engraved for print by Charles Heath.

The first appearance of Westall's illustrations for the Arabian Nights appeared in 1819 in a publication by Booker and the same suit of engravings was used again by the publishers (Rivintgon and others) of this 1925 edition, all the plates present in these volumes are dated 1819. The Arabian Nights have been a source of literary fascination for the British public since their appearance in the early eighteenth century, however it is rare to find illustrated editions that precede the present example. As the developments in printing progressed in the second half of the nineteenth century, illustrated editions of the Nights became increasingly popular and by the twentieth century dozens of illustrated editions become available with illustrations re-imagined by a wide array of artists.

First Rivington edition, with the engravings from the 1819 Booker edition, 4 vols, 12mo (165 x 110), 4 additional engraved titles with pictorial vignettes by Charles Heath after Richard Westall, 8 engraved plates by Heath after Westall, preliminaries a little foxed, some light foxing and offsetting to plates (as often), edges a little darkened, housed in near-contemporary diced navy calf, spines decorated with spiralling gilt motifs with red morocco labels lettered in gilt, lightly rubbed at extremities else a handsome set. 165 x 110mm (6½ x 4¼ inches).