THE VISUAL POETRY OF ASIA

Gary, Dorothy Hales ; Payne, Robert (1911–1983)

The Splendors of Asia: India, Thailand, Japan. [Inscribed to Ben & Pearl Raeburn]

New York: The Viking Press.
A magnificent association copy of this visually rich mid-century travel volume, inscribed by author Robert Payne to his publisher, Ben Raeburn. 

The Splendors of Asia represents a sophisticated collaboration between photographer Dorothy Hales Gary and Payne, a renowned biographer and historian. Together, they weave a narrative of India, Thailand, and Japan that is part documentary and part aesthetic meditation. This copy, belonging to the founder of Horizon Press, stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit of mid-century publishing. With its large-format presentation and striking black-and-white imagery, the book remains a definitive artifact of the 1960s cultural encounter with the East.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with full-page and double-spread black-and-white photographs by Dorothy Hales Gary, emphasizing architectural detail and ceremonial tradition.
+++ Binding: Original publisher’s green cloth featuring a distinctive blind-stamped horizontal pattern; gilt-stamped spine.
+++ Content: 157 pages; a curated journey through the philosophical and physical landscapes of Asia’s three great cultural anchors.
+++ Inscription: Warmly inscribed by Robert Payne to Ben and Pearl Raeburn on the front free endpaper. Ben Raeburn was his publisher on other projects. Payne was one of the most versatile authors of the era, and this personal gift highlights his status within Raeburn's 'Republic of Letters.'
+++ Imprint: New York: Viking Press, 1965. First Edition stated.
+++ Specs: 12 inches tall (Quarto); 11–157 pages.

CONDITION: Near Fine / Very Good.
+++ The Book: Near Fine. The bindings are tight and square. The text block is exceptionally clean with only very light, even age-toning. Minimal shelf handling wear to the cloth.
+++ The Jacket: Very Good. Original unclipped dust jacket. Shows minor handling wear consistent with its size; now protected in a removable archival Mylar sleeve.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ The 1960s 'Global' Lens: Reflects the era's shift toward high-production travel "art books" that prioritized atmosphere and cultural "spirit" over mere itinerary.
+++ Robert Payne’s Scope: Provides a window into Payne’s ability to pivot from scholarly biography to accessible cultural interpretation, a skill that made him a favorite of both trade and independent publishers.
+++ The Raeburn Library: Adds to the growing provenance record of the Ben Raeburn / Pat Percy estate, illustrating the high-quality gift exchange common among New York’s top editors and authors.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
While Robert Payne is best remembered for his biographies of figures like Gandhi and Lenin, The Splendors of Asia showcases his role as a popularizer of world culture. Ben Raeburn, through Horizon Press, was the steward of many of the era’s most challenging intellectual works; owning this Viking "Gift Edition" inscribed to him shows the personal side of his professional life. It is a piece of publishing history that captures the aesthetic optimism of 1965.

SUBJECTS: Robert Payne, Dorothy Hales Gary, Asia Travel, India, Thailand, Japan, Viking Press, Ben Raeburn, Horizon Press, Association Copy, 1960s Photography, Association Copy, First Edition, Travel Photography.

Item #21757

Price: $45.00