The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night. By Sir Richard Burton. Illustrated by Valenti Angelo. Illustrated Edition. Heritage Press. New York, 1962.

Arabian Nights, also translated to One Thousand and One Nights, is a collection of Middle Eastern fairy tales that are centuries’ old. They come from various cultures and eras. They remain popular across the globe today, especially the stories of Sinbad the Sailor, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. This translation of the work is particularly influential, too. First published in 1888, it is credited with introducing these tales to Western culture. Sir Richard Burton was the translator. He was also an explorer and diplomat whose original ten-volume translation was hugely successful. In this three-volume set, Burton’s translation is paired with illustrations by Valenti Angelo. It is a spectacular version of the text––readable and authoritative as well as handsomely bound.

This set of the illustrated edition is in very good condition. In the original quarter cloth and slipcases. Volume one near fine with only minor rubbing to slipcase. Volume two near-fine with only former owner’s bookplate to front endpaper and rubbing to slipcase. Volume three very good with crease to spine and cracks and closed tears to slipcase.

A very good set of the illustrated edition of Arabian Nights.