The Tempest Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

First William Heinemann edition. Stated at copyright: "First published 1926." True first issue book and wrapper with list of other Rackham titles verso half-title page, and many more with ornately decorative border to back panel of wrapper. Large 7 3/4" x 10" design. Charcoal full-cloth boards, stylized gilt cover and spine titles, light shelf wear, rub, bow. Front features sharp gilt impression of Rackham mermaiden. Crisp spine titles, vignette of mermaid child bursting from waves; Heinemann in gilt at heel. Frontispiece mounted plated with ornately detailed border and title page: "Go bring the rabble O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place." Pages very good, clean; no writing. First issue also distinguished by the rare yellow top-stain to text block. Pages of text at 78 and 79 have interesting offset printing image or other possibly from bookmark set in at one time, which nearly appears as ghostly silhouette of feminine form near seam of bind. Includes twenty mounted color plates by Arthur Rackham. Each wonderfully subtle with captioned page adjacent and vignette verso this. Additionally, twenty-five black & white partial-page designs, headers, tailpieces and vignettes throughout. String-bind good, square; hinges intact. Original beige matte wrapper with deep maroon cover and spine titles, vignette of Rackham mermaid motif, moderate edge wear, rub, discoloration; 21s. Net at spine, protected in new clear sleeve. Sharp near fine first edition of quality book craftsmanship in rare near very good matching wrapper. When asked to name five plays by Shakespeare he would like to illustrate, Rackham placed The Tempest at the top, second only to A Midsummer Night's Dream, and is evident in the ethereal and subdued color plates. The Tempest is among Gettings' survey of Rackham's Best Book Illustrations. The Tempest is thought to have been written in 1610-1611, and said to be the last play that Shakespeare composed alone. Set on a remote island, where the sorcerer Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place using illusion and skillful manipulation. Prospero conjures up a storm, the tempest, to cause his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to believe they are shipwrecked and marooned on the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature, the redemption of the King, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand. Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Ltd., Bungay, Suffolk. 185 pages. Insured post. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.…