Numismata Orientalia: CATALOGUE of the COLLECTION of ORIENTAL COINS belonging to COL. GUTHRIE; Coins of the AMAWI KHALIFEHS, by S. L. POOLE, 8vo. 5 plates, representing nearly 50 Coins, sewed, 28 the same, 8vo. cloth, 2s 6d Privately printed, Hertford, 1874 the same, LARGE PAPER, sm. 4to. cloth, 7s 6d "The coins of the Khalifehs of the House of Umayyeh possess an own. Unlike those of the 'Abbasīs, historically they are of little value. historian's standpoint that we should view them. Their true worth lies purely Mohammadan coinage that was issued by the Arabs." 1874 1874 interest peculiarly their But it is not from the in their being the first The Catalogue contains "some thirty or forty unpublished coins. The series which it describes is scarcely, if at all, inferior to the corresponding portion in the British Museum, and an estimate may be formed of the rarities contained in it by reference to the list of inedited coins at the end." O'Connor (C.) Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip TORES veteres, quibus Editor præfixit: de Fontibus Historiæ genuinæ Hibernorum, eorumque Chronologia, deque antiquissimis Codicibus literis Hibernicis ante æculum X Sexaratis; Græcorum et Romanorum Testimonia, itemque S. Patricii Epistolæ, Ficci Hymnus, et Gilda Modudii Carmen de Regibus Hiberniæ; domesticorum Annalium chronologica rationes, etc. 4 vols. 4to. facsimiles of Irish MSS. boards, rare, £25. Buckinghamia, 1814-26 Privately printed at the expense of the late Duke of Buckingham. Only 200 copies were issued, and these for presents. One or two copies have been sold in the last few years at constantly rising prices. The O'Connor copy, 4 vols. in boards, sold recently at Dublin for £105. The expenses incurred by the Duke of Buckingham, for the researches and for the printing of these four volumes, exceeded the sum of £3000. The work consists of the original Irish texts, with Latin translations, of the Hiberno-Celtic MSS., formerly in the Library of Stowe, but now added to the literary treasures of Ashburnham House, near Hastings, the Earl of Ashburnham having purchased the whole of the Stowe Collection of MSS. Dr. O'Connor refrained from inserting any work which had already been printed, and the entire series may be said to consist of important additions to the history and antiquities of Ireland, most of which were only previously known to us by name. Therefore, "Whether we consider the learning of O'Connor, the value of the materials, or the princely munificence of the Duke of Buckingham, at whose expense it was produced, it is without a parallel in modern literature.”—Sir F. Palgrave, Rise of the English Commonwealth. The painful interest attaching to recent Irish history demands that the oldest historical texts should be studied by scholars who are desirous to trace to their real source the anomalies and dissensions of to-day. The extreme rarity of old Irish MSS., especially those of historical character, is notorious; and their contents can only be examined together in this collection. Omar Khayyam and Jami. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the Astronomer-Poet of Persia, rendered into English verse; fourth edition; SALAMAN and ABSAL, an allegorical Sufi poem by Maulana Nur ud Din Abd ur-Rahman bin Ahmed JAMI, in English metre, with a notice of Jami's life, second edition, 2 parts in 1 vol. post 8vo. pp. xv and 112, hf. Roxburghe, 10s 6d Bernard Quaritch, 1879 The attraction which these remarkable poems exercise over persons of taste is so great that three editions (not inclusive of unauthorized reprints) have been exhausted. The above authorized fourth edition is now ready for sale. "Mr. Fitzgerald does not aim at completeness or literal correspondence with the original; in quantity it is but a cento, in quality a paraphrase. In saying this we are not raising an objection, but merely stating a fact. Mr. Fitzgerald has done what the finest textual criticism and the most uncompromising devotion to literal accuracy could never accomplish: he has reproduced the thoughts of the Persian poet in English poetry, not merely in versified prose. Omar Khayyám is, we believe, the only Oriental poet who has been thus worthily represented. Others have been done into fair verse translations, but of none save Omar can it be said that the translation stands by itself as true poetry. "We believe Mr. Fitzgerald's version to be unapproachable in poetic feeling, and scarcely less in perfectness of form. wild Eastern imaginings, and interspersed with those grotesque little fables with which it was the custom of the Persian poets and fabulists to intersect the thread of their main story. To each of the two poems there is prefixed a scholarly biography of the author, and to each notes are appended explanatory of allusions which might otherwise be obscure to readers not versed in Persian history or Mohammedan manners and modes of thought."-Scotsman, Sept. 12, 1879. "Fitzgerald's delightful selection."-The Academy, April 22, 1882. "The fourth edition of the Rubáiyát, or quatrains of the Astronomer-Poet of Persia,' rendered into English by Mr. Fitzgerald, shows how attractive the expression of Oriental thought may be made to home readers, even when conveyed in the language with which they are most familiar. Nor does our own country stand alone in acknowledging the charm of this successful attempt to achieve a difficult end. The work has already become popularized in the United States. When we consider the lyrical and imaginative power evinced by the same translator in illustrating the genius of Greek tragedy for the benefit of his countrymen, we need feel no surprise that, once led to the contemplation of Persian poetic lore, he should be quite as much at home with Umar the Nishabúri as with Eschylus the Athenian. Measured, however, by the standard of translation' (a word here used in the merest conventional sense), the reputation of neither the little-known Persian nor popular English text becomes enhanced by the variations played upon the former. A poet, whose diction can be said to warrant so many inter-valism, ranging from the latter part of the pretations as are observed in the several editions of Umar Kháiyám published by Mr. Quaritch, must indeed be a mystic of mystics: otherwise, his expounder lays himself open to the charge of more than once misapprehending that poet's meaning. Readers would have reasonable excuse for entertaining suspicion in either sense. Let us take, for instance, the first stanza, according to the edition of 1859 :--- Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to flight; "All who can feel the rich afflatus of Persian poetry, or who can find a scholarly amusement in the curiosities of Oriental literature, will do well to read the little book, already in its fourth edition, Rubáiyat of Omar Khayyám; and the Salámán and Absál of Jámi' (Bernard Quaritch). The poems here rendered, with such verve and grace of English diction as will go far to convince the appreciative reader, totally unacquainted though he may be with the original, that a worthy haud for the task of translation has been found, correspond in time with our Western media eleventh to about the middle of the fifteenth century. The earlier of the two poets represented, Omar of Naishápur, in Khorasan, is said to have been a tent-maker. At all events, his 'takhallus,' or poetical name, Khayyám, taken literally, signifies as much; though it may of course be simply the retained surname of an hereditary calling, like Smith, Fletcher, Miller, and others, common among us. Núrudin Abdurrahman, who took the name of Jámi from his birthplace, a little town of Khorasan, came into the world more than three hundred years after Omar Khayyam; but there is no such apparent chronological difference between Jámi's mystical poems and the Rubáiyat, or stanzas, of Omar, as we should expect to find, by analogy with our own progressive language. The philosophy, half sad, half merry, of both these poets, is as forward an element of their verse as is the fertile imagination which they share by comLight.""munity of race. We have already spoken admiringly of the English translation. It is not only much neater than constructed verses usually are; it is of itself a thing to praise; and some of the pieces, read merely as polished gems of English lyric ideality, are perfect."Daily Telegraph, Aug. 15, 1879. And lo! the Hunter of the East has caught The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light.' In the present edition the opening stanza is thus expressed : Wake! For the Sun who scatter'd into flight Drives Night along with them from Heav'n, The Sultan' Turret with a Shaft of "In a quaint and tastefully got-up volume we are here presented with two of the most famous of Persian poems in an English version. The translation of the Rubáiyát' or quatrains of Omar Khayyam has attained a fourth edition, and the majestic gravity of expression, the remarkable breadth and enlightenment of thought, and the genuinely epicurean philosophy embodied in these singular verses, have deservedly gained for their author the title of the Persian Lucretius. The 'Salaman and Absal' of Jami is less known except to Persian scholars, though its author holds almost as high a place as Omar Khayyam in Oriental estimation. It is an allegory veiling a mystic doctrine held by the poet; full of "Omar Khayyam, of whose name ten years ago hardly any Englishman had heard, may now be almost regarded as a naturalized English author, thanks to the masterly version of Mr. Fitzgerald. Our literature affords few examples of so successful a transplantation from one language into another; but the resul could not have been attained in English with out an extremely free treatment of the Persian text."-The Saturday Review, Dec. 18, 1880. Ongania's Publications: Venise, Arts in: LA VIE PRIVÉE A VENISE depuis les premiers temps jusqu'a la chute de la Republique par P. G. MOLMENTI, thick post 8vo. 570 pp. vignettes and 8 etchings, ornamental wrapper, a very nice and Venise, 1881 cheap book, 88 L'HISTOIRE DE LA VIE PRIVÉE À VENISE PAR P. G. MOLMENTI a été couronnée par l'Institut royal des sciences, des lettres et des arts de Venise. Imprimée depuis et livree au Public, elle a reçu un accueil qui a pleinement confirmé le suffrage si flatteur de notre Académie. Deux éditions, tirées à plusieurs containes d'exemplaires, ont été facilement écoulées. Animé par ce brillant succès, j'ai entrepris d'en publier une traduction en langue française, à l'occasion du troisième Congrès géographique, qui doit se réunir cette année à Venise. L'histoire de Molmenti se présente cette fois au grand public de l'Europe. L'éditeur pour l'en rendre plus digne, l'a fait traduire par un écrivain français distingué. Works on Venetian Lace : 1. VECELLIO CESARE.-The Crown of noble and virtuous ladies, in which are shown in 119 designs all manner of patterns of cut-laces, of edgings, Venice, 1876 etc. facsimile of the original edition of 1600, £3. 58 lace; 2. FRANCO G.-A number of newly invented designs for giupure and net24 patterns for laces, etc. facsimile of the original edition of 1596, Venice, 1877 168 3. III bis. The ROMAN LUCRETIA; A noble ornament for gentle matrons, wherein are contained collars, and borders of infinite beauty; 20 engravings in 4to. facsimile of the original edition of 1620, £2. 88 Venice, 1876 4. PAGAN MATT.-A good example of the laudable desire of noble-minded ladies to learn the art of making giupure laces; with 31 engravings, facVenice, 1878 simile of the original edition of 1550, 24s 5. ZOPPINO (known as Nicolò Aristotile).-A general collection of beautiful ancient and modern embroideries, in which either man or woman may worthily exercise rare skill with the needle, etc.; with 52 engravings, Venice, 1877 facsimile of the original edition of 1537, 248 6. VAVASSORE AND: (called Guadagnini)-New universal work, entitled the Crown of Embroideries, in which worthy ladies and maidens will find various patterns for making collars of shifts, covers of cushions, silk coifs of many kinds, and a large number of works for embroiderers; with 40 Venice, 1878 engravings, facsimile of the original edition of 1546, 248 7. OSTAUS JOHN (The true perfection, etc.).-A most delightful way of occupying your daughters with work, such as the chaste Roman Lucretia gave her maidens, and upon which they were found employed with her by Tarquin and her husband Collatinus, as described in the first book of the Decades of Livy; with 40 engravings, facsimile of the original edition of Venice, 1878 1567, 248 8. PAGAN MATIO.-A new work composed by Domenico da Seva, called the Franciosino, in which noble and elegant young ladies are taught every kind of stitch, to sew, to embroider, and to do all such beautiful work as is fit for virtuous maidens, and for those who delight in making fancy-work with their own hands; and which is also very useful to weavers who are in the habit of working in silk. It comprises 12 small sheets, one within the other, and is signed AI-AXII; with an illustrated frontispiece and 46 engravings, facsimile of the original edition of 1546, 32s Venice, 1878 [Of this first edition, which is quite unknown to bibliophiles who have specially dealt with this subject, no other copy is believed to exist.] Ongania's Publications-continued 9. PAGANINO ALEX. (Burato)-First book of embroideries, by which, in various ways, the method and manner of embroidering are taught—a thing which has never yet been done, nor shown, and which the reader will learn on turning the page, In fine: P. A. Pag. Benacenses, F. Bena V. V. Without date, but certainly one of the first and most precious books of this kind; with 28 engravings, facsimile of the original edition of the 15th century, 32s Venice, 1878 10. SERENA. New work on embroideries, in which are to be found various and divers sorts of plaited laces and thread-laces, etc. Venice, Domenico de Franceschi, Frezzeria, at the Queen's head, with 29 engravings, facsimile of the original edition of 1564, 24s Venice, 1878 11. ZOPPINO (called Aristotile).-Sampler, wherein young maidens, and other noble ladies, may easily learn the way to work, sew, and embroider, and, finally, all those genteel and praiseworthy works which a virtuous lady may execute, needle in hand, with her compasses and measures, facsimile of the original edition of 1530, 248 Venice, 1878 12. PARASOLE ISABELLA CATANEA.-The precious Jewel of virtuous ladies, in which are seen beautiful works in open lace, net-lace and bobbins designed by I. C. Parasole and newly republished by Luchin Gargano. Venice, 1600. Second book of the Precious Jewel . wherein are to be seen newly invented and very beautiful designs of various kinds of great and small laces, open laces, cut-laces, etc. Ibid. Luchino Gargano, 1601, with 42 engravings, facsimile of the original edition of 1600-1601, Venice, 1878 13. TAGLIENTE.—A new sampler which teaches ladies to sew and to embroider, and every one to design, etc. Printed in Venice by G. A., and the brothers da Sabbio, 1531, facsimile, £2. 32s Venice, 1879 14. BURATO.-First book of Embroideries by which is to be learnt, etc. (Sce No. 9 Paganino). 14a. BURATO.-Second book of Embroideries by which is to be learnt the way to embroider etc. New work by Alex. Paganino, 1527, facsimile (very rare), 248 Venice, 1881 14b. Burato.—Third book of Embroideries by which is to be learnt, etc. A. Paganino, 1527, facsimile (very rare), 24s Venice, 1880 14c. BURATO.-Fourth book of Embroideries by which is to be learnt, etc. A. Paganino, 1527, facsimile Venice, 1880 Facsimiles of Portulani: DI DUE ASTROLABI in caratteri cufici occidentali, trovati in Valdagno (Veneto) illustrazione di Almerico da Schio, un volume in 8vo. di 71 pag, con sei tavole facsimile, 10s Venezia, 1880 1. CARTA NAUTICA IN LINGUA LINGUA ARABA (carattere magrebino), anonima del XIII secolo ; 1 tavola in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nell Bibl. Ambrosiana di Milano, 5s Venezia, 1881 Ongania's Publications-continued 2. CARTA NAUTICA DI PIETRO VISCONTE DI GENOVA dell' anno 1311; 1 tavola in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nel R. Archivio di Stato di Firenze, 58 Venezia, 1881 3. PLANISFERO DI FRETE GIOVANNI DA CARIGNANO DI GENOVA del principio del XIV secolo; 1 tavola in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nel R. Archivio di Stato di Firenze, 58 Venezia, 1881 4. PORTOLANO DI VISCONTE DI GENOVA dell' anno 1318; 7 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nel Museo Civico e racc. Correr di Venezia, 218 Venezia, 1875 5. PORTOLANO LAURENZIANO-GADDIANO di anonimo dell' anno 1351; 8 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella Bibl. Mediceo-Laureziana di Firenze, 248 Venezia, 1881 6. CARTE NAUTICHE MEMBRANACEE DI FRANCESCO PIZIGANI dell' anno 1373; 9 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella Bibl. Ambrosiana di Milano, 27s Venezia, 1881 7. PORTOLANO MEMBRANACEO DI ANONIMO del XIV secolo; 4 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella R. Bibl. Marciana di Venezia, 12s Venezia, 1881 8. PORTOLANO DI GIACOMO GIRALDI DI VENEZIA dell' anno 1426; 6 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella R. Bibl. Marciana di Venezia, 188 Venezia, 1881 9. L'ATLANTE DI ANDREA BIANCO dell' anno 1436; 10 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella R. Bibl. Marciana di Venezia Prefazione di Oscar Peschel, 31s Venezia, 1871 10. PLANISFERO TERRESTRE di forma ellittica di anonimo (in lingua latina) dell' anno 1447; 4 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella R. Bibl. Nazionale di Firenze, 128 Venezia, 1881 11. CARTA NAUTICA MEMBRANACEA DI ANDREA BIANCO dell' anno 1448; 4 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella Bibl. Ambrosiana di Milano, 12. Venezia, 1881 12. PORTOLANO MEMBRANACEO DI ANONIMO dell' anno 1450 (circa); tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nel Museo Comunale di Mantova Venezia, 1881 13. PLANISFERO DEL MONDO CONOSCIUTO (in lingua catalana) di anonimo del XV secolo; 8 tavole in folio Dall' originale che si conserva nella R. Bibl. Nazionale di Firenze, 248 Venezia, 1881 14. PLANISFERO DI GIOVANNI LEARDO dell' anno 1452; 4 tavole in folio Dall' originale di proprietà del Comm. de Pilat. Prefazione di G. Berchet, Venezia, 1880 21s |