Somewhere beneath the Atlantic Ocean lies one of the world's most sought-after rare books. It is a jeweled edition of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, translated and published in 1860 by Edward FitzGerald.
It's location today? Not preserved in a rare book library, but lying somewhere deep within the submerged and rusting hulk of the Titanic.
It was designed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in 1911. The designers described it as “the most ambitious bookbinding ever undertaken by any bookbinder at any period in history.” The Moroccan leather cover featured dazzling peacocks in full plumage and intricate gold accents. It contained over a thousand precious stones—including emeralds, rubies, amethysts, and topazes—all set in gold. The book was encased in an oak slipcase for protection. This masterpiece was destined for greatness but met tragedy when it was consigned to the ocean depths after Titanic’s sinking.
Fun Fact: The book "boasted over a thousand precious and semi-precious jewels, thousands of separate leather onlays and it took the firm two years of continuous work to finish."
Collectors and enthusiasts often wonder: what would it be like to own a version of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam? While the spectacular jeweled edition remains lost, obtainable editions hold their own stories and values.
Collectible Editions of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
While the jeweled edition lost on Titanic remains unmatched in extravagance, other rare (and somewhat more attainable) versions of this book also command high prices at auction.
- The 1884 Illustrated Folio Edition — This version, illustrated by Elihu Vedder, was limited to 100 deluxe large folio copies. The deluxe edition used the superior Albertype printing process to replicate Vedder’s intricate illustrations. It sold out within six days of its release. In 2024, a copy of this edition fetched $10,795 at auction.
- The 1911 Peacock Edition — Produced by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, this limited edition like the one lost at sea featured a stunning peacock design and chromolithographic illustrations on Japanese vellum. In 2023, a copy of this luxurious edition sold for $15,000 in London.
- The 1859 First Edition — The true first edition, translated by Edward FitzGerald, was limited to 250 copies. In 2014, one of these rare first editions sold for nearly $20,000 at Sotheby’s.
Even modern collectors find value in affordable trade editions of the Vedder-illustrated Rubaiyat, which used early “half-tone” digital replication to reach a wider audience. Each edition reflects its own unique era of craftsmanship and demand.
The Jeweled Rubaiyat’s 1912 Auction Price: A Story of Value and Loss
Let's get back to the mystery of the jeweled Rubaiyat.
On March 29, 1912, just twelve days before Titanic’s maiden voyage, the jeweled Rubaiyat was auctioned at Sotheby’s in London. It sold for a shockingly cheap price, just £405 (approximately £27,400 or $34,250 in 2025). The high bid was considered a fraction of its worth due to economic caution after England's coal strike. Even then, The New York Times reported that the final auction price was barely a third of the book's value.
Following the auction, Sotheby’s packed the book and arranged for it to be transported to its buyer in America. The buyer, Gabriel Wells—renowned for his rare book dealings—entrusted the Rubaiyat to White Star Line's newest grand lady - Titanic.
Wells, born Gabriel Weiss in Hungary, became one of the 20th century's most influential antiquarian booksellers, handling rarities such as a Gutenberg Bible and a limited-edition set of Mark Twain’s works. By 1930, he'd been named president of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association, further cementing his authority in the field. Known for his preference for quality over publicity, Wells rarely issued catalogs but often brokered discreet deals with collectors and institutions.
Rare Books Lost to the Atlantic: Titanic's Ill-Fated Literary Cargo
When Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, the ship went down in the icy waters, tragically taking the lives of 1,503 passengers and crew, as well as the ship's luxurious appointments and all of her cargo.
Somewhere, among the decaying debris of that cargo, lies the Rubaiyyat. The jeweled Rubaiyat was not the only literary treasure lost when the Titanic sank.
Pieces of parchment from a Torah owned by Hersh L. Siebald also vanished beneath the waves.
Another tragic loss was a rare first edition of Francis Bacon’s essays. The book belonged to Harry Elkins Widener, a Harvard graduate and passionate bibliophile. After helping his mother and her maid onto a lifeboat, Widener stepped back and declined another chance to board. He stayed behind as the ship descended into chaos. His body was never found.
In memory of her son, Widener's mother endowed the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library to Harvard University following the disaster. The Widener rare book library today remains one of the most famous in the world.
Could the Jeweled Rubaiyat Be Discovered?
Since Titanic’s wreckage was discovered in 1985, deep-sea explorations have recovered thousands of artifacts. Many of these historic pieces, preserved against all odds, are now displayed in museums dedicated to the Titanic’s legacy.
Despite multiple search expeditions, no trace of the jeweled Rubaiyat has ever been recovered from Titanic’s wreckage. According to Second Officer Charles Lightoller, books were stored in the furthest aft cargo hold near the rudder—a part of the ship that suffered catastrophic damage during the sinking.
The stern section was violently torn apart upon impact with the seafloor, creating a chaotic debris field of twisted metal and scattered machinery. Unlike the relatively intact bow, the stern is fragmented and difficult for remote robots to navigate, with rudder pieces and propeller remains still visible among the wreck.
In the summer of 2024, a new Titanic expedition used advanced technology to capture detailed digital scans of the wreck. The goal was to track changes over time, preserve the current state, and identify potential new access points to the interior of the ship.
But the findings from the stern weren’t encouraging as it relates to the Rubaiyat. The back of the ship was in far worse shape than expected, with large sections of metal collapsed into a tangled mass. The destruction has made it nearly impossible to reach any interior areas, especially the aft cargo hold, which was shattered into countless fragments during the sinking. Instead of an intact space, the debris field stretches across the seafloor, scattering remnants—including any cargo—far and wide.
From the Wreckage: How Paper Artifacts Like the Rubaiyat Could Survive
Remarkably, many paper artifacts have been retrieved since the wreck’s discovery in 1985. Items such as handwritten letters, playing cards, and sheet music emerged intact after 75 years underwater. These survived only because they were protected inside leather suitcases and sturdy cases.
Leather-bound objects have fared better than most materials. Oceanic microorganisms cannot break down the tannins used to preserve leather, making it more resistant to decay compared to metals or untreated fabrics.
The jeweled Rubaiyat may still be somewhere in that wreckage, though exactly where is anyone’s guess. If the book wasn’t completely destroyed on impact, there’s a chance the precious stones are still in existence. We can assume the book was well-packed upon being loaded into the cargo hold. If so, it's possible that its original wrappings or crating may offer it some protection.
The leather binding might have had a chance at survival, moreso than the pages, thanks to its tannins that resist decay. If it ever resurfaces, there's a remote possibility that the distinctive cover—maybe even Eliku Vedder’s illustrations—could still be recognizable after more than a century beneath the sea.
What Would the Jeweled Rubaiyat Be Worth Today?
If the jeweled Rubaiyat were found today, its value would be extraordinary. Titanic expeditions have recovered artifacts that fetched huge sums at auction. Bandleader Wallace Hartley's violin, played as the ship went down, sold for $1.7 million. The instrument set a Titanic memorabilia auction record in 2013.
Given the Rubaiyyat's intrinsic value as a rare book, it could easily be worth in excess of $120,000 today. An original soft-wrapped printing of this book sold in 2009 for $30,000 alone - and that's without the decadent gold and jewels.
With its tragic backstory and connection to the most famous maritime disaster in history, this one-of-a-kind volume would absolutely spark global interest if recovered. Rare book collectors and Titanic enthusiasts would compete fiercely for the chance to own such a legendary artifact.
Of course, that’s assuming it’s ever found. Until then, the jeweled Rubaiyat remains a symbol of both grandeur and loss, resting somewhere in the Atlantic's depths.
Find Out the Value of Your Rare Nautical Books and Titanic Memorabilia
While the jeweled Rubaiyat remains lost, you may own a valuable piece of history related to the Titanic or other famous ocean liners. Rare books, maritime logs, and ephemera from the early 20th century—especially those published close to Titanic’s fateful voyage—are highly sought after by collectors and history enthusiasts.
At Britannic Auctions, we have a passion for preserving maritime history. We specialize in buying, auctioning, and consigning rare books, ship logs, and ephemera related to historic vessels like Titanic, Lusitania, and Queen Mary. Whether it’s a survivor’s memoir, a set of deck plans, or a shipping ledger, these pieces offer a genuine connection to the past.
If you’re curious about the value of your collection or want to learn more about auctioning an item, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a free auction evaluation—our team of experts is ready to guide you through every step of the process.
Your next discovery could be the treasure collectors have been waiting for. Let your rare items tell their story at auction.
