SOME BRITISH BALLADS

London: Constable and Co, [1919]. First Edition. 16 tipped-in color plates, line drawing head and tail pieces by Arthur Rackham. Tissue Guards throughout. 8vo, publisher’s original light-blue cloth lettered and pictorially decorated in gilt on the upper cover and spine and with pictorial blind-stamping to lower cover, Rackham illustrated endpapers. 170. A lovely copy, the blue cloth fresh with bright gilt, internally very nice, the foxing, of which the book is prone, is present occasionally but mild and primarily confined to the edges and margins, the plates all bright and clean, two of which with small and very unobtrusive creases at a bottom corner. FINE FIRST EDITION IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH GILT. A collection of early English ballads, perhaps inspired by wartime patriotism, with the usual charming illustrations by Rackham. Here we find a generous sampling of Rackham’s famous styles, subjects and atmospheres. We encounter mythic gnomes and lithe damsels, brooding dark birds perched over-looking stark plains, slender maidens greeting their princes, and sinister scenes lit by dim starlight. The graceful line drawings introducing each ballad conjure fanciful creatures and lively human encounters. The color plates vividly depict the subject of the ballads and act to translate the now archaic verse into the timeless language of Rackham’s articulate illustration. We find Rackham’s eloquent brush again and again creating irresistible sentiment and emotional texture . This sentimental rendering of traditional English Ballads is sure to be a treasured addition to any serious Arthur Rackham collection.