[BURTON, Richard Francis, Sir (1821-1890)]. The Kasîdah (Couplets) of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî: A Lay of the Higher Law. Translated and Annotated by His Friend and Pupil, F.B. London: Privately printed [Bernard Quaritch, 1880].

4to (269 x 202 mm). Original stiff printed yellow wrappers, uncut (some losses to spine, upper hinge reinforced, slight soiling); cloth portfolio, stamp-signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with the title-page undated and without Quaritch’s name, of Burton’s pseudo-translation and great English poem in the style of an Arabic-language poem, a qaṣīda. The Kasîdah was first published by Bernard Quaritch in 1880 for the sole audience of Burton and his friends, who believed him to be the translator of a Persian Sufi text using the pen name “F.B.” for “Frank Baker.” However, it is generally thought that Burton was the author, writing under the pseudonym "Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî” in an attempt to bring Sufic teachings to the West. Penzer posits that less than 200 copies of the entire edition were printed and the publisher stated that less than 100 of the entire edition was sold, comprising the first and second issues, with the remainders being returned to Burton and his friend group. Penzer, pp. 97-98; Idries Shah, The Sufis, p. 290; Spink 63 (“the most rare first issue”).

Property from the Collection of Robert S. Brown, Cincinnati, Ohio

[BURTON, Richard Francis, Sir (1821-1890)]. The Kasîdah (Couplets) of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî: A Lay of the Higher Law. Translated and Annotated by His Friend and Pupil, F.B. London: Privately printed [Bernard Quaritch, 1880].