Jonathan Scott [trans.] — The Arabian Nights Entertainment

London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, 1811 . First edition. Leather. The complete six volume first Jonathan Scott translation of the Arabian Nights, uniformly bound in half calf. The first edition of this work to be translated by Jonathan Scott. Two editions by Scott were issued by this publisher in 1811, with this being the smaller unillustrated "demy octavo", rather than the large format "post octavo, with plates by Smirke. Complete in six volumes. 'Arabian Nights', or 'One Thousand and One Nights', is a collection of folk tales from the Middle East. It was collected over centuries, with the roots of the tales being traced from Greek, Indian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Jewish folklore. The tales are being told by Scheherazade to the King Shahryar, in a bid to save her life. After discovering his wife was cheating on him, he killed her, and vowed to marry a new virgin every day, and then behead them the next. In this vein, he had killed one-thousand and one women before marrying Scheherazade. Scheherazade entices the King by telling him a story on their first night together, pausing halfway through as the sun came up. The King, being absorbed by the story, keeps Scheherazade alive, eager to hear more from her. Edited and translated by English orientalist Jonathan Scott, who made a substantial revision of Antoine Galland's translation of 1704-17, the first in a Western language. With the inscription of Charles H. Bedford, Glasgow, 19th June, 1919, to a front blank of volume I. With the bookplate of Joan E. Eckhart to the front pastedown of volume I. In half calf bindings with marbled paper covered boards. Gilt detailing to back strips. Rubbing to back strips, lacking title spine labels. Volume I and VI hinges, volume II and III front hinge, volume V rear hinge strained but firmly held. Internally, firmly bound. Pages lightly age toned due to paper type, with instances of light spotting. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .