THE KASÎDAH OF HÂJÎ ABDÛ EL-YEZDÎ by [Van Vechten, Carl, and Fania Marinoff (her copy)]: Burton, Sir Richard - [1924].

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, [1924].. 135pp. Large octavo. Cloth-backed batik paper over boards. Frontis and illustrations. Binding heavily worn at forecorners, lower 6cm of spine cloth absent, but a sound copy. First US printing in this format, illustrated with wood-engravings by Wilfred Jones. One of 2040 numbered copies printed by the Pynson Printers after a design by Elmer Adler. A lovely association copy, inscribed by Carl Van Vechten to his wife, Fania Marinoff: "for my dearest baby, from Carlo / Christmas -- 1924." Marinoff's beautiful engraved Willy Pogany personal bookplate appears on the front pastedown. Van Vechten met Russian actress Fania Marinoff in 1912 - they married in 1914 and remained together until Van Vechten's death in 1964. Marinoff was supportive of Van Vechten's sexuality.