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Published by Ballantine Books, New York, NY, USA, 1969
Seller: Second Chance Books & Comics, Yukon, OK, U.S.A.
Book Signed
Soft cover. Condition: Fair +. Mass Market Paperback Has cover and spinal creases. Signed by Author(s).
Published by The Roycrofters, East Aurora NY, 1900
Book Signed
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Samuel Warner (illustrator). Pub by The Roycrofters, 1900. NOT exLib. VG cond. in green-turned to-brown suede leather with bright gilt lettering on front cover. Yapped edges. Five small spots to front cover. Military green cloth inside pastedowns. Book is complete, intact & unmarked. Beautifully colored title page. Hand-made paper textblock. title page and initials done by Samuel Warner. 75pp + 2pp. Square, straight, tight & clean except as noted, overall VG condition. Same or next day shipping. Please email any questions. NOTE: We are fortunate to have a very large number of Elbert Hubbard / Roycrofters titles in stock -- some listed online, some not -- & we'd be happy to answer any questions and/or to combine postage for multiple purchase. Signed by Illustrator(s).
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Cleveland 1946 World. 8 1/2 inch cloth HB. 113 p. From the Rainbow Classics series. Illustrated by Fritz Kredel with B&W drawings and 3 color plates. little David signed his name on front ep., jacket has slight edgewear. VG in VG jacket.
Published by E J Arnold & Son
Seller: BookAddiction (ibooknet member), Canterbury, United Kingdom
Book First Edition Signed
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Goss, G W (illustrator). 1st Edition. 96pp. Printed soft card covers. Bumping all round. Handful of line drawings. Tight, clean and bright.12mo. Inscribed by Author(s).
Published by The Pterodactyl Press, Cumberland, Iowa, 1986
ISBN 10: 0931757185ISBN 13: 9780931757181
Seller: BIBLIOPE by Calvello Books, Oakland, CA, U.S.A.
Book First Edition Signed
Paperback. Condition: near fine(-). Large red octavo, 76 pages, 25 cm. Edition limited to 750 softcover and 200 hardcover copies; an additional 25 hardcover copies, numbered and signed by the author. Poetry. Very mild rubbing to spine head and foot, very gentle rubbing to edges, light sunning to spine, barcode sticker and faint stamp to front free endpaper, pale soiling to two fore-edges, bright pages in tight binding, else near fine(-). First edition (presumed; no earlier dates stated).
Published by New York, Roycroft, 1900., 1900
First Edition Signed
8vo. viii+78pp.Original brown suede. Frontispiece and hand-illuminated devices throughout. A very good copy. First edition thus. Signed by Elbert Hubbard and the Illuminator. Edition limited to 350 copies only.
Published by Pterodactyl Press, Cumberland, 1986
Seller: Recycled, Corte Madera, CA, U.S.A.
Book Signed
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Limited Edition. #3 of 25, signed by Dickey, with an additional presentation, and still in the plain dust jacket. A lovely book. Inscribed by Author(s).
Published by Thames & Hudson, London, 2019
ISBN 10: 050065185XISBN 13: 9780500651858
Seller: Zeitgeist Books, Middlesex, United Kingdom
Book First Edition Signed
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Blake, Quentin (illustrator). 1st Edition. A Superb UK first edition, first printing hardback - no dustjacket (as issued) - All my books are always securely packed with plenty of bubblewrap in professional boxes and promptly dispatched (within 2-3 days) - SIGNED BY QUENTIN BLAKE - Pictures available upon request. Signed by Author(s).
Published by Thames & Hudson, 2019
ISBN 10: 050065185XISBN 13: 9780500651858
Seller: first state books, Corsham, WILTS, United Kingdom
Book First Edition Signed
Hardcover. Condition: New. No Jacket. Blake, Quentin (illustrator). 1st Edition. Fine in boards, as issued. First printing copy of a story originally written by John Ruskin in 1851. First thus. Signed by Blake to front free endpaper. Signed by Author(s).
Published by HARRAP., LONDON., 1932
Seller: Angus Books, SHEFFIELD, MA, U.S.A.
Book First Edition Signed
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good+. RACKHAM. (illustrator). 1st Edition. LIMITED EDITION(112/570 SIGNED COPIES).FINE VELLUM BINDING WITH BRILLIANT GILT ON FRONT COVER.VELLUM SHOWS SOME WAVY EFFECT IN SOME AREAS.ORIGINAL SLIPCASE HAS SPINE LABEL(SLIGHTLY CHIPPED)WITH THE TITLE,ILLUSTRATED BY RACKHAM AND NO.OF THIS COPY.SLIPCASE IS SOLID BUT HAS LIGHT SOIL AND SOME DARKENING.ATTRACTIVE OWNER'S BOOKPLATE ON ONE SIDE.A DESIRABLE COPY OF A SCARCE RACKHAM ITEM. Signed by Illustrator(s).
Published by George Harrap, London, 1932
Seller: Jeffrey H. Marks, Rare Books, ABAA, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
48 pp. Illustrated in color and black and white by Arthur Rackham. 8vo, original full gilt-lettered flexible vellum; but lacking the publisher's slipcase. First edition; No. 514 of 570 copies, signed by Arthur Rackham. Very fine; a beautiful copy.
Published by George G. Harrap & Co, London, 1932
Seller: Second Story Books, ABAA, Rockville, MD, U.S.A.
Signed
Hardcover. Limited Edition, #148/575. Octavo, 47 pagers; VG; bound in publisher's limp vellum stamped in gilt; plain spine; top edge gilt; very mild shelfwear; lacking publisher's slipcase; interior clean; signed flat by Rackham on the limitation page, hand-numbered #148/575 copies; with four color plates, 15 black and white drawings; shelved case 14. Ruskin's only published work of fiction was originally a fairy tale requested by twelve year old Effie Gray, who would later become his wife.; 1365084. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.
Published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, London, 1932
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
Signed limited edition. Octavo, original limp vellum, gilt titles and decoration to front cover, illustrated endpapers, top edge gilt, color frontispiece and three plates, illustrations in the text, all by Rackham. Signed by Arthur Rackham, one of 570 copies of which 550 were for sale, this is number 549. Near fine in the the rare original slipcase, bookplate. This work by John Ruskin was originally written in 1841 for the twelve-year-old Effie (Euphemia) Gray, whom Ruskin later married. It was published in book form in 1851, and became an early Victorian classic which sold out three editions. In the "Advertisement to the First Edition", which prefaces it, it is called a fairy tale, one, it might be added, that illustrates the triumph of love, kindness, and goodness over evil; however, it could also be characterized as a fable, a fabricated origin myth and a parable. It was illustrated by Arthur Rackham in 1932.
Published by George Harrap & Co. Ltd, London, 1932
Seller: Swan's Fine Books, ABAA, ILAB, IOBA, Walnut Creek, CA, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
Vellum. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: near fine. Rackham, Arthur (illustrator). First and Limited Edition. First edition with Rackham illustrations, one of 575 copies, octavo size, 48 pp., signed by Arthur Rackham. A perfect convergence of "one of the earliest English examples of a fantasy written specifically for a child" (which may have had a direct effect upon George MacDonald and, subsequently, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien) written by the truly brilliant writer John Ruskin (1819-1900), author, art critic, and social thinker. Ruskin wrote the story for the then twelve-year old Effie Gray, later to become his wife, who challenged her friend Mr. Ruskin to write a fairy story, as it was "the least likely task for him to fulfill" - he fulfilled it wonderfully, and the story has remained a favourite with children ever since. Wonderfully illustrated by the unparalleled Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), whose "imaginative eye saw all forms with the eyes of childhood and created a world that was half reassuring and half frightening" (n. b., quotes from Carpenter, "The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature", p. 294 and Houfe, "The Dictionary of 19 Century British Book Illustrators", p. 268). With four full-page illustrations in full colour and fifteen drawings in black and white by Arthur Rackham, this copy housed in the original publisher's slipcase (with the limitation number matching that in the volume), and with the original glassine wrapper. ___DESCRIPTION: Full limp vellum, gold lettering on the front, top edge gilt, fore- and bottom edges uncut, green pictorial endpapers, limitation statement on the verso of the half-title page, frontispiece a four-colour illustration, title page in red and black with vignette in the same colours, four full-colour illustrations (including frontispiece) throughout, the black and white drawings scattered through the text; octavo size (9.25" by 6"), pagination: [1-4] 5-47 [48], one of 550 copies, this number 287 (total edition 570, with 20 copies not for sale), signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page. In the original glassine jacket, housed in the publisher's plain original slipcase, paper spine label with brown lettering giving the title and illustrator, with the limitation number of 287 handwritten onto the label. ___CONDITION: Volume fine, the vellum binding clean and smooth, the corners straight and unrubbed, the text block strong and the hinges solid, the interior pages clean and bright with light foxing only to the endpapers, several signatures unopened, and entirely free of prior owner markings; some light dustiness to the top fore-edge corner of the text block, else fine. The glassine wrapper near fine with minor overall wear (no rips or tears), sunned around the spine. Slipcase near fine, strong and sturdy, without splits or tears, with light overall soiling and some edgewear to the paper spine label. ___CITATIONS: Riall p. 176; Latimore & Haskell p. 67. ___POSTAGE: International customers please note that additional postage may apply, please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions, we are here to help.
Vellum. Condition: Near Fine. Arthur Rackham (illustrator). A very pleasing copy of the 1932 signed/limited. #451 OF 570 COPIES SIGNED BY ARTHUR RACKHAM at the limitation and bound in a full vellum, with bright gilt-titling to the front panel. Clean and easily VG+ to Near Fine, with much less of the bowing to the vellum than one usually encounters in this title. Octavo, 4 full-page color plates by Rackham plus lovely Rackham-illustrated pastedowns and endsheets. Also includes a sharp. well-preserved example of the publisher's printed slipcase.
Published by William Edwin Rudge, NY, 1930
Seller: Bromer Booksellers, Inc., ABAA, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
Signed
Horvath, Ferdinand Huszti (illustrator). Octavo. (65)pp. One of fifty copies, containing an ALS from Ruskin tipped-in to a front flyleaf, and signed by the artist below the caption to the frontispiece. In addition to the frontispiece are five additional engravings by Horvath, all full-page and all evincing a keen eye for shadows and atmosphere, a particularly relevant talent to apply to Ruskin's tale of fancy and deceit. Bound in black boards with gilt titling to spine, and housed in original dropback box, generally soiled. Near fine. Bookplate of Margaret and Elwood Feldstein to front paste-down.
Published by George G. Harrap & Co Ltd, London
Seller: Nelson Rare Books, ABAA, Haddonfield, NJ, U.S.A.
Signed
Limited edition, #23 of 550 hand-numbered copies, signed by Rackham. Bound in publisher's full limp vellum with gilt-lettered cover. Illustrated with color frontispiece, 3 color plates, and numerous in-text black and white illustrations. 8vo. 48pp. Latimore & Haskell, pg. 67. A fine copy with top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed, illustrated endpapers, previous owner's bookplate on verso of front free endpaper; in a good matching publisher's paper-covered slip case with title label.
Published by London: George Harrap and Co. Ltd., 1932., 1932
Seller: Minster Gate Bookshop (est. 1970), YORK, United Kingdom
Association Member: PBFA
Signed
Limited edition of 570 copies, of which this in no.96, signed by Arthur Rackham, 8vo., pp.48, publisher?s full vellum in original glassine jacket, gilt, deckle-edged paper, t.e.g., 4 colour plates (including colour frontispiece), pictorial title in red and black, small vignette in red to half title, 3 further small illustrations in red, pictorial endpapers printed in green, 10 in-text illustrations in b/w; slight creasing to upper corner of front wrapper, a particularly fine copy, with light wear to glassine jacket. Housed in cream card slipcase with printed paper label to spine (with handwritten limitation number); slipcase is foxed and with slight wear to edges of paper label, and has 2cm closed tear to paper covering at rear lower corner, else vg.
Published by London: George G. Harrap & Co Ltd, 1932, 1932
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Signed
Signed limited edition, number 328 of 570 copies signed by the artist. Ruskin's story was originally conceived in 1841, and written for his future wife, Effie Gray: "Effie first met her future husband when she was twelve, on a visit to Herne Hill. The following year, 1841, on a second visit, she challenged him to write a fairy story" (ODNB). First published in 1850, with illustrations by Richard Doyle, Ruskin's only published work of fiction proved one of his most popular books. "The tale, in the manner of the brothers Grimm, deployed imagery that was to resurface in Ruskin's writings on political economy" (ibid.). Rackham's edition first appeared in 1932, and this deluxe signed edition followed shortly after. Latimore & Haskell, pp. 67-68; Riall, p. 176. Octavo. Original limp vellum, front cover lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, pictorial endpapers. Colour frontispiece and 3 colour plates, black and white illustrations in the text. Vellum slightly cockled, a near-fine copy.
Published by George Harrap & Co. Ltd., London, 1932
Seller: Currey, L.W. Inc. ABAA/ILAB, Elizabethtown, NY, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
Octavo, pp. [1-4] 5 [6] 7 [8] 9-47 [48], four inserted plates with color reproductions of illustrations by Arthur Rackham, fifteen black and white illustrations by Rackham in the text, preliminary leaves printed in red and black, publisher's limp vellum, front panel lettered in gold, t.e.g., other edges untrimmed, pictorial endpapers. First printing with these illustrations. Number 189 of 570 copies signed by Arthur Rackham. "Kunstmärchen in which three brothers live in an Edenic valley until the greed of the elder two leads to its desolation; the youngest, with the aid of the eponymous fair king, restores it to its paradisiacal state. A conventional moral tale, gracefully told." - Barron, ed., Fantasy and Horror (1999) 3-118. Latimore & Haskell p. 67. A fine copy in torn plain glassine wrapper and worn, chipped and soiled cardboard slipcase (with matching number). (#160384).
Published by George G. Harrap & Co., Limited, 39-41 Parker Street, Kingsway, London, 1932
Seller: The BiblioFile, Rapid River, MI, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
Full-Leather. Condition: Fine. Rackham, Arthur (illustrator). First Edition. Beautifully signed in fountain by Arthur Rackham and hand-numbered at limitation page: "This edition limited to Five Hundred and Seventy copies of which Five Hundred and Fifty are for sale. This Copy is No. '159.' "Arthur Rackham.'" Stated at copyright: "First Published 1932 by George G. Harrap & Co." Bound in fine cream vellum (leather), gilt embossed cover titles, generally very clean with light wear, roll. Rough-cut deckled leaves remain clean, bright; many leaves remain uncut. Gilded top edge. Bind fine. Frontispiece color plate with caption: "He Put the Bottle to the Child's Lips." Features four superior and richly subtle color plates which greatly enhance this tale by Rackham. Fourteen black & white vignettes, one double-page, with decorative headers and tailpieces. Enchanting scissorcuts by Lisl Hummel. Monochromatic green patterned endpapers of elfin king, arms spread with his sceptor. Includes original slipcase serving intended purpose to protect volume; some rub, edge wear, exterior adhesive reinforcement. Case with title label at spine area appears individually hand numbered in Rackham's hand with same device as limitation page: "159." A wonderfully realized and entertaining work of art and craftsmanship. Near fine signed limited edition with original intact case. Originally written in 1841 for twelve-year-old Euphemia "Effie" Gray, the story was first published in 1851 and became an early Victorian classic. The first three editions, or printings, quickly sold out. Ruskin presents a fairy tale that illustrates the triumph of love, kindness, and goodness over evil. It is also considered a fable, a fabricated origin myth, and a parable. Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, as well as an art patron, draughtsman, water-colorist, prominent social thinker and philanthropist. Illustration with Rackham's stylish imagery and whimsical flourishes throughout. A beautifully imagined classic! Printed in Great Britain by R & R Clark, Limited, Edinburgh. Insured post. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall. Signed by Artist. Book.
Published by George G. Harrap, London, 1932
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First thus. 48pp. with four color plates. Publisher's limp vellum lettered in gilt. Copy #537 of 550 copies in the limited edition signed by Arthur Rackham. Fine in Very Good original slipcase with small split along bottom edge, light wear. A very nice copy. Haskell and Latimore p. 67.
Published by George Harrap, London, 1932
Seller: Whitmore Rare Books, Inc. -- ABAA, ILAB, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.
First Edition Signed
First Thus. Limited to 570 copies signed by the illustrator, of which this is 522. Housed in the original slipcase with paper label to spine, and retaining the scarce glassine jacket, which is Near Fine on account of some chipping to bottom edges and offsetting to spine. Book in original vellum with gilt to exterior and pictorial endpapers; overall Fine inside and out. A pleasing copy. A delightful fairy tale told with all Ruskin's charm of style, his appreciation for mountain scenery, and with his usual insistence on drawing a moral. Yet the backstory to this particular tale has a special spark all its own, for it emerged from a challenge issued to Ruskin by the 12 year old daughter of friends, who "bade him write for her a fairy tale. He accepted, and after but two sittings presented her with this charming story. The incident also awakened in him a greater interest than at first appeared, for a few years later, that girl Euphemia "Effie" Grey became his wife" (Coe). Here, the story is given further dimension with Rackham's magical illustrations.
Seller: John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller, ABAA, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
Signed
London: George Harrap and Co. Ltd., 1932. 8vo, 48 pp. With 4 color plates and 15 black and white illustrations. Original full limp vellum, titles and decoration to upper board gilt, top edge gilt. Half title and title page lightly foxed, slight discoloration to vellum as usual, small repaired hole on the upper cover. A very good copy without slipcase. § Deluxe limited edition of 570 copies signed by Rackham, this copy is number 534. The fable of three fortune-seeking brothers and a golden dwarf was written by Ruskin in 1841 for his future wife, the then twelve year old Effie Gray. Ninety years later it proved the perfect subject matter for Rackham's fantastical illustration. Latimore & Haskell p. 67.
Published by London: George Harrap & Co., 1932, 1932
Seller: David Brass Rare Books, Inc., Calabasas, CA, U.S.A.
Signed
One of 575 Copies Signed by Arthur Rackham [RACKHAM, Arthur, illustrator]. RUSKIN, John. The King of the Golden River. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. London: George Harrap & Co., [1932]. One of 575 copies signed by Arthur Rackham, this being copy No. 385. Octavo (8 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches; 222 x 146 mm.). 47, [1] pp. Four color plates and fifteen drawings in black and white. Original limp vellum. Pictorial endpapers in green and white. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Covers very lightly dust-soiled, otherwise a fine copy. Chemised in a green cloth slipcase with red morocco gilt lettering label. John Ruskin (1819-1900), "English author and artist, whose The King of the Golden River might be regarded as the first English fairy story for children. Though it was not published until 1851, seven years after Francis Paget's The Hope of the Katzekopfs, it was in fact written in 1841 for 12-year-old Effie Gray, whom he later married. It is a story of the three brothers of tradition, two bad, the youngest good, and their reception of a supernatural visitor, the South West Wind. Ruskin described it himself as â a fairly good imitation of Grimm and Dickens, mixed with some true Alpine feeling of my own', but the South West Wind is a powerful and original character, described by Stephen Prickett [in Victorian Fantasy (1979)] as the â first magical personage to show that combination of kindliness and eccentric irascibility that was to appear so strongly in a whole tradition of subsequent literature'. Richard Doyle, who illustrated the original edition, made a striking drawing of him. Edgar Taylor's translation of the Grimms' stories with illustrations by George Cruikshank was published in 1823; in Praeterita Ruskin recorded how he had copied these when he was 10 or 11. The book was reissued in 1868 with an introduction by Ruskin in which he spoke of the value of the traditional tales, with their power â to fortify children against the glacial cold of selfish science'â "a sentiment which lies at the heart of his own story" (The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales). Latimore and Haskell, p. 67. Riall, p. 176.
Published by London: George Harrap & Co., 1932, 1932
Seller: David Brass Rare Books, Inc., Calabasas, CA, U.S.A.
Signed
One of 575 Copies Signed by Arthur Rackham [RACKHAM, Arthur, illustrator]. RUSKIN, John. The King of the Golden River. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. London: George Harrap & Co., [1932]. One of 575 copies signed by Arthur Rackham, this being copy No. 472. Octavo (8 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches; 222 x 146 mm.). 47, [1] pp. Four color plates and fifteen drawings in black and white. Original limp vellum. Pictorial endpapers in green and white. Top edge gilt, others uncut. A few text leaves roughly opened, small inoffensive stains on endpapers. A very good copy. Housed in a green cloth clamshell case. John Ruskin (1819-1900), "English author and artist, whose The King of the Golden River might be regarded as the first English fairy story for children. Though it was not published until 1851, seven years after Francis Paget's The Hope of the Katzekopfs, it was in fact written in 1841 for 12-year-old Effie Gray, whom he later married. It is a story of the three brothers of tradition, two bad, the youngest good, and their reception of a supernatural visitor, the South West Wind. Ruskin described it himself as â a fairly good imitation of Grimm and Dickens, mixed with some true Alpine feeling of my own', but the South West Wind is a powerful and original character, described by Stephen Prickett [in Victorian Fantasy (1979)] as the â first magical personage to show that combination of kindliness and eccentric irascibility that was to appear so strongly in a whole tradition of subsequent literature'. Richard Doyle, who illustrated the original edition, made a striking drawing of him. Edgar Taylor's translation of the Grimms' stories with illustrations by George Cruikshank was published in 1823; in Praeterita Ruskin recorded how he had copied these when he was 10 or 11. The book was reissued in 1868 with an introduction by Ruskin in which he spoke of the value of the traditional tales, with their power â to fortify children against the glacial cold of selfish science'â "a sentiment which lies at the heart of his own story" (The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales). Latimore and Haskell, p. 67. Riall, p. 176.
Published by George Harrap & Co., Ltd., London, 1932
Seller: Wallace & Clark, Booksellers, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Book First Edition Signed
Limp Vellum. Condition: Fine. Rackham, Arthur (illustrator). First Rackham Edition. (Rackham, Arthur) illustrator. THE KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER by John Ruskin. London: George Harrap & Co., Ltd., [1932], 1932. First Rackham edition. 8vo - 6" x 9-5/16". Bound in vellum with gold lettering on the cover; gilt top. 47 numbered pages. Four full-page illustrations in colour and fifteen drawings in black and white, also pictorial end-papers in green and white. This edition is limited to 570 copies, of which 550 are for sale, all signed by the artist, Arthur Rackham. This copy is No. 58. Original slipcase with printed label and hand-written copy number has some foxing and a partial split to one of the upper joints. The condition of this book is FINE. Signed by Illustrator(s).
Published by George G. Harrap & Company, London, 1932
First Edition Signed
Softcover. Book condition is Very Good bound in full vellum, with gilt titles on the front cover; housed in a Very Good slipcase with paper label at spine. Toning, and a few small bumps to edges of slipcase. Text is unmarked, decorated end papers, four color plates, black & white drawings throughout. 48 pages. Edition was limited to 570 copies singed by Rackham. ; Signed by the illustrator, Arthur Rackham, on the limitation page. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; Signed by Illustrator. First Edition in this Format; Limited Edition.
Published by London: George Harrap & Co., 1932, 1932
Seller: David Brass Rare Books, Inc., Calabasas, CA, U.S.A.
Signed
One of 575 Copies Signed by Arthur Rackham [RACKHAM, Arthur, illustrator]. RUSKIN, John. The King of the Golden River. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. London: George Harrap & Co., [1932]. One of 575 copies signed by Arthur Rackham, this being copy No. 521. Octavo (8 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches; 222 x 146 mm.). 47, [1] pp. Four color plates and fifteen drawings in black and white. Original limp vellum. Pictorial endpapers in green and white. Top edge gilt, others uncut. A near fine, partially uncut copy. Housed in the original (slightly worn) slipcase with matching limitation number to spine. John Ruskin (1819-1900), "English author and artist, whose The King of the Golden River might be regarded as the first English fairy story for children. Though it was not published until 1851, seven years after Francis Paget's The Hope of the Katzekopfs, it was in fact written in 1841 for 12-year-old Effie Gray, whom he later married. It is a story of the three brothers of tradition, two bad, the youngest good, and their reception of a supernatural visitor, the South West Wind. Ruskin described it himself as â a fairly good imitation of Grimm and Dickens, mixed with some true Alpine feeling of my own', but the South West Wind is a powerful and original character, described by Stephen Prickett [in Victorian Fantasy (1979)] as the â first magical personage to show that combination of kindliness and eccentric irascibility that was to appear so strongly in a whole tradition of subsequent literature'. Richard Doyle, who illustrated the original edition, made a striking drawing of him. Edgar Taylor's translation of the Grimms' stories with illustrations by George Cruikshank was published in 1823; in Praeterita Ruskin recorded how he had copied these when he was 10 or 11. The book was reissued in 1868 with an introduction by Ruskin in which he spoke of the value of the traditional tales, with their power â to fortify children against the glacial cold of selfish science'â "a sentiment which lies at the heart of his own story" (The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales). Latimore and Haskell, p. 67. Riall, p. 176.
Published by London: George G. Harrap & Co Ltd, 1932, 1932
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Signed
Signed limited edition, number 151 of 570 copies signed by the artist. Ruskin's story was conceived in 1841 and written for his future wife, Effie Gray: "Effie first met her future husband when she was twelve, on a visit to Herne Hill. The following year, 1841, on a second visit, she challenged him to write a fairy story" (ODNB). First published in 1850, with illustrations by Richard Doyle, Ruskin's only published work of fiction proved one of his most popular books. "The tale, in the manner of the brothers Grimm, deployed imagery that was to resurface in Ruskin's writings on political economy" (ibid.). Rackham's edition first appeared in 1932. A near-contemporary review stated "The King of the Golden River is a classic tale, marvellously illustrated in colour and line by that great artist, Arthur Rackham". Latimore & Haskell, pp. 67-68; Riall, p. 176. Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art, 30 November 1935, pp. 534-5. Octavo. Original limp vellum, front cover lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, pictorial endpapers. Publisher's original slipcase with hand-numbered spine label. Colour frontispiece and 3 colour plates, black and white illustrations in the text, all by Rackham. Slight cockling to vellum, slipcase a little toned and worn with some minor splitting: a near-fine copy in a very good slipcase.