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20
CHUGHTAI'S MAGNUM OPUS: POET
OF THE EAST (DELUX EDITION)
ALONG WITH A POSTERT
POET OF THE EAST AND CHUGHTAI
[Popularly known as AMLE CHUGHTAI]
Introduction by Justice S. A. Rahman
Text in English and Urdu
Published in Lahore by Chughtai himself in 1968
Size: 36.5 x 29 x 8 cm
with 39 tipped-in colour plates,24 photogravures, 8
calligraphic plates and 1 etching.
Each painting and photogravure has, on the facing page,
the English translation of Iqbal's quatrain on which it is
based.
Full leather binding with fine dustjacket.
According to a publicity brochure for the book, issued
by Chughtai, the edition was limited to 275 copies.
This is not a numbered copy.
It is an Out of series copy.
Signed in English and Urdu on the 3rd last page.
The book has 72 works by Chughtai, most ofwhich
were painted by him after 1950 specially for this work
and are not to be found in other booksby him. He
had this idea to publish a book on Iqbal's poetry in
1953 but financial troubles to carry out the massive
and lavish project took him 15 years to complete it.
The Government of Pakistan approved a grant for the
book but due to change of government he could get
only part of it. The final cost was Rs 3 lakh and it was
marketed at the then prohibitive price of "Rs 1500 /
$315 / GBP131" according to the publicity brochure for
the book.
The book comes along with a poster promoting the
new book titled "Chugtai's Indian Paintings"
Rs 2,50,000-Rs 3,00,000
$3,850-$4,620