[Tehran (Persia) Imperial Majless Press]

[Book of Specimens]

[Tehran]: [Publishing House of Parliament], [1926]. Hardcover. Oblong quarto, 174 pp. Very good. Item #CNBR408

A fascinating book from Tehran, Persia (now Iran) of the types and fleurons available for printing from the Persian Parliament (known as the "Majless") Printing Plant. Published in 1926, immediately after the Imperial State of Persia was established under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty in December of 1925.

With some of the pages in English, we can share what they themselves said about the Majless Press: "The 'Majless' (Persian Parliament) Printing Plant is provided with the most modern and most rapid typography, copper-plate printing, book-binding, stereotypy, electro-metallurgy and typograph linotype machines from the most renowned German works, and, with this efficient equipment, it can display to its customers the perfection of the art of printing and its wonderful development and progress....It has about 148 different sorts of Persian, Arabic, Latin and Russian types....this is the first time a Printing Plant in Persia can supply all the requirements of the public..."

The book opens with about eight pages of Farsi text (we have not translated all of the pages, but it appears to be a history of the Press) which is followed by pages of type specimens in several languages, sample designs for items such as advertisements, business cards, and invoices, and ornaments including rubicated capitals, fleurons and manicules. Towards the back of the book (which reads right to left) are several chromolithgraphic plates, a picture of a building (presumably the Parliament and/or Press building), the final page being an embossed image of a nude woman playing a harp done entirely in gilt.

Scarce in the trade, at least in the English-speaking online marketplaces.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full blue cloth over flexible boards, embossed in silver on the front board is the lion and sun emblem of the Imperial State of Persia with a crown above and enclosed within a circle, silver lettering in Farsi debossed below the emblem, marbled endpapers, the title page printed within a yellow decorated rectangle with handwriting (fountain pen) above, "Tehran (Persia) Imperial Majless Press / Book of Specimens, [?] Tehran, January 1926", this followed by several pages of text in Farsi, specimen pages, chromolithographed plates and the closing gilt image (all as set forth above), note that several pages have written in pencil type sizes ("6 pt") as though discussions were taking place with a customer, the book in front of them; an oblong quarto (9 7/8" wide by 6 1/4" tall), [174] pp.

___CONDITION: Very good overall, the front board clean and with only minor rubbing to the embossed emblem, the corners gently bumped with minimal rubbing, a strong, square text block, the interior is clean and bright, the only prior owner markings being those described above; some bubbling to the cloth on the boards (a bit more pronounced on the back board), light stains to the back board, both hinges cracked but the boards firmly attached.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.

Price: $500.00