The Book

Published by Day & Son in 1860 “Paradise and the Peri” is one the stories from a larger and very popular work of fiction by Thomas Moore titled Lalla Rookh based on Persian mythology. The story is about a beautiful spirit who travels the world seeking a gift that will allow her to enter Heaven. This tale allowed Jones to use motifs from Egypt and Persia as well as more traditional Western ones. The book is composed of 54 pages. Facing pages have same elaborate border illumination with text on verso (left page), and illustrations on recto (right page). Gorgeous borders, in full color & gilt, printed on heavy stock. There are many styles of ornament from floral to geometric. The book is realized in the new medium of chromolithography. This milestone book blazed a new trail in book design, which prefigures the Kelmscott openings of thirty years later.' R. Maclean. Victorian Book Design and Colour Printing. (Text courtesy of Illuminated Manuscripts at alfredom.com)

All the borders that ornate the pages of this book have been hand drawn in EPS vector format by Alfredo Malchiodi and are available as a clip art CD collection and for instant download at alfredom.com.