''The Jovial Ali Baba''

Illustration by Edmund Dulac

The subject of this illustration is an ageing, but happy character from one of Scheherezade's famous tales, Ali Baba from

"Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves". In this case, Dulac has depicted Ali Baba in the years following the nuptials of his son

and Morgiana.

A particular passage that seems relevant to this illustration was described in Edward William Lane's Stories from

Thousand and one nights (1914) as follows:

He mounted his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse

to a tree, then approaching the entrance, pronounced the words, "Open Simsim!"

whereupon the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the condition he

found things in, judged that nobody had been there since the captain had fetched

the goods for his shop. From this time he believed he was the only person in the

world who had the secret of opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at

his sole disposal. He put as much gold into his saddle-bags as his horses would

carry, and returned to the town.

Complete image	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: ED JAB SGC Price: US$5.00	Detail (for reference)
	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: ED JAB 12x18 Price: US$60.00

Our Greeting Cards

When presented on Greeting Cards, this image is prepared as a tipped-on plate - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished, with the image presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each

card we also present some information about Edmund Dulac and this wonderful illustration. We have left the interior

of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

Our large format reproductions

Each of our large format reproductions are prepared with archival quality materials and processes to ensure many years

of enjoyment. In addition, our reproductions are accompanied by explanatory material relating to Edmund Dulac

and this wonderful illustration.

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