Marco Polo by Manuel Komroff, published as a lavish Easton Press edition (1962), is a captivating retelling of the legendary Venetian explorer’s travels through the Mongol Empire, immortalized in a volume as rich in craftsmanship as it is in adventure. This exquisite edition features the vivid illustrations of Nikolai Fyodorovitch Lapshin, whose detailed, evocative artwork brings to life the wonders Polo encountered—from the court of Kublai Khan to the spice markets of Persia and the pagodas of Cathay.
Bound in supple full leather with 22-karat gold tooling, silk moiré endpapers, and archival-quality paper, this Easton Press edition transforms Komroff’s narrative into a tactile treasure. Lapshin’s illustrations, rendered with a blend of historical precision and romantic flair, mirror the text’s blend of fact and legend, capturing the opulence of the Silk Road and the awe of a medieval European confronting Asia’s splendor.
A masterpiece of travel literature and bookmaking, this volume is a must for collectors of exploration narratives and fine press editions—a journey for the hands and imagination alike.
“I did not tell half of what I saw.” —Marco Polo
