The Splendors of Asia: India, Thailand, Japan. [Inscribed to Ben & Pearl Raeburn]
Published by The Viking Press, New York
- Used
Seller: Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA), DeLand, FL, U.S.A.Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)
AbeBooks seller since September 1, 2011
Association member: ABAAESAIOBAFABAILAB
View this seller's itemsCondition: Used - Near fine
£ 34.27
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
A magnificent association copy of this visually rich mid-century travel volume, inscribed by author Robert Payne to his publisher, Ben Raeburn. The Splendors of Asia represents a sophisticated collaboration between photographer Dorothy Hales Gary and Payne, a renowned biographer and historian. Together, they weave a narrative of India, Thailand, and Japan that is part documentary and part aesthetic meditation. This copy, belonging to the founder of Horizon Press, stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit of mid-century publishing. With its large-format presentation and striking black-and-white imagery, the book remains a definitive artifact of the 1960s cultural encounter with the East. KEY FEATURES +++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with full-page and double-spread black-and-white photographs by Dorothy Hales Gary, emphasizing architectural detail and ceremonial tradition. +++ Binding: Original publisher's green cloth featuring a distinctive blind-stamped horizontal pattern; gilt-stamped spine. +++ Content: 157 pages; a curated journey through the philosophical and physical landscapes of Asia's three great cultural anchors. +++ Inscription: Warmly inscribed by Robert Payne to Ben and Pearl Raeburn on the front free endpaper. Ben Raeburn was his publisher on other projects. Payne was one of the most versatile authors of the era, and this personal gift highlights his status within Raeburn's 'Republic of Letters.' +++ Imprint: New York: Viking Press, 1965. First Edition stated. +++ Specs: 12 inches tall (Quarto); 11-157 pages. CONDITION: Near Fine / Very Good. +++ The Book: Near Fine. The bindings are tight and square. The text block is exceptionally clean with only very light, even age-toning. Minimal shelf handling wear to the cloth. +++ The Jacket: Very Good. Original unclipped dust jacket. Shows minor handling wear consistent with its size; now protected in a removable archival Mylar sleeve. SCHOLARLY FEATURES +++ The 1960s 'Global' Lens: Reflects the era's shift toward high-production travel "art books" that prioritized atmosphere and cultural "spirit" over mere itinerary. +++ Robert Payne's Scope: Provides a window into Payne's ability to pivot from scholarly biography to accessible cultural interpretation, a skill that made him a favorite of both trade and independent publishers. +++ The Raeburn Library: Adds to the growing provenance record of the Ben Raeburn / Pat Percy estate, illustrating the high-quality gift exchange common among New York's top editors and authors. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE - While Robert Payne is best remembered for his biographies of figures like Gandhi and Lenin, The Splendors of Asia showcases his role as a popularizer of world culture. Ben Raeburn, through Horizon Press, was the steward of many of the era's most challenging intellectual works; owning this Viking "Gift Edition" inscribed to him shows the personal side of his professional life. It is a piece of publishing history that captures the aesthetic optimism of 1965. SUBJECTS: Robert Payne, Dorothy Hales Gary, Asia Travel, India, Thailand, Japan, Viking Press, Ben Raeburn, Horizon Press, Association Copy, 1960s Photography, Association Copy, First Edition, Travel Photography. …
Seller Inventory # 21757
Bibliographic details
- Title
- The Splendors of Asia: India, Thailand, Japan. [Inscribed to Ben & Pearl Raeburn]
- Author
- Gary, Dorothy Hales ; Payne, Robert (1911-1983)
- Publisher
- The Viking Press, New York
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Dust jacket
- Very Good
- Item weight
- 4 pounds
- Seller catalogs
- ART: PHOTOGRAPHY, LITERATURE [Many Sub-Catagories], TRAVEL, EXPLORATION & GEOGRAPHY
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 4 to 8 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 4.44 | £ 9.20 |
Payment methods
- Invoice
- Paypal
Store description
Blind Horse Books is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) and adheres to its Code of Ethics. We specialize in travel, exploration, fine press, and documentary material, with particular emphasis on printed ephemera, maps, photographic archives, and institutional publications from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Our inventory regularly includes material appropriate for academic, library, and museum collections. We work carefully with provenance, condition, and bibliographic accuracy, and stand fully behind all descriptions and attributions. Items are selected with long-term research and collecting value in mind. Blind Horse Books is operated by Richard and Dottie Oates and based in DeLand, Florida. We have been active in the antiquarian book trade since 1999 and are members of the ABAA, FABA, IOBA, and the Ephemera Society of America. Building Your Great Collection, One Fine Book at a Time. …
Specialty
Travel, Exploration, Fine press, and Documentary material; EphemeraAssociation member
Seller's business information
Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)
FL, U.S.A.
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