Description: Undine (Signed limited edition) Author: Rackham, Arthur (illustrator); [Friedrich] De La Motte Fouque Title: Undine (Signed limited edition) Publication: London & New York: William Heinemann/Doubleday, 1909 Edition: First thus Description: Edition deluxe, number 226 of 1000 large-paper copies signed by the artist, a Near Fine copy. Quarto. Fifteen color plates mounted on brown art paper, with captioned tissue guards, head & tailpieces. Handsomely rebound ca. 1960 by Bayntun (Rivière) in full blue crushed levant morocco. Covers decoratively bordered in gilt, spine with five raised bands, decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, gilt board edges and turn-ins, cockerel end-papers, top edge gilt, others uncut. Slight cracking to the upper joint with some repairs. Spine a bit faded. Housed in a fleece-lined, light blue cloth slip-case.Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué's novella Undine (1811), is a German reimagining Paracelsus's sixteenth-century alchemical folklore, in which a water nymph hopes to gain a spirit by marrying a human knight, but their romance has tragic consequences. "With the aqueous world of Undine, Rackham found an opportunity to revive and develop his earlier art nouveau linear decorative drawing. Especially in the need to incorporate waves and water currents in his pictures. He was thus able to connect a felicitous quality of decoration into his plates, as well as a new feeling for flat pattern which harks back to fin de siècle without being too openly mannered" (Gettings). "Although the waves and eddies of Undine bear the mark of Art Nouveau, the work was still another step forward for Rackham, the unity of conception in the line drawings and the colour plates, the assertion of contrast in the moods of the heroine, rendering it a masterpiece of sympathetic understanding" (Hudson).Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) is perhaps the most acclaimed and influential illustrator of the Golden Age of Illustration. A prolific artist even from his youth, Rackham got his start as an illustrator working for the Westminster Budget Newspaper (1892). Over the next few years, he took on more and more commissions for children's books, hitting his career high in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Rackham turned his imaginative pen to every classic—from Shakespeare to Dickens to Poe.Latimore and Haskell 34. Riall 93. Seller ID: 6384 Subject: Fine Bindings and Sets, Illustrated Books, Literature, Signed Books Whitmore Rare Books was founded in 2010 with the aim of drawing together exceptional first editions of important literary works. Over the past several years, the shop has become a world-class destination for both seasoned collectors as well as those people newly discovering the field. WRB maintains a reputation for rigorous research and integrity, for discriminating taste, and for creating a space where collectors can interact with amazing copies of the books they love. Terms All orders ship within three business days. All items are guaranteed to be as described or they may be returned within 14 days of receipt for a full refund.This listing was created by Bibliopolis.
Price: 1850 USD
Location: Pasadena, California
End Time: 2024-12-16T14:49:58.000Z
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Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
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Author: Rackham, Arthur (illustrator); [Friedrich] De La Motte Fouque
Publisher: William Heinemann/Doubleday
Year Printed: 1909
Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Signed
Language: English
Subject: Illustrated
Original/Facsimile: Original
