Undine. Adapted from the German by W. L. Courtney.

RACKHAM, Arthur (illus.); LA MOTTE-FOUQUÉ, Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de.

Published by London: William Heinemann; Doubleday Page & Co., New York, 1909

About this Item

First Rackham edition, deluxe issue, number 109 of 1,000 copies signed by the illustrator. This publication "was still another step forward for Rackham, the unity of conception in the line drawings and the colour plates, and the assertion of contrast in the moods of the heroine, rendered it a masterpiece of sympathetic understanding" (Hudson, p. 80). The fairy tale of Undine, a water spirit who marries a human knight to acquire an immortal soul, was first published in German in 1811. Latimore & Haskell, pp. 34-5; Riall, pp. 93-4. Derek Hudson, Arthur Rackham, His Life and Work, 1975. Quarto. Colour frontispiece and 14 colour plates each mounted on brown paper with captioned tissue guard, black and white drawings in the text, title page printed in green and black. Original vellum, spine and front cover decorated and lettered in gilt, brown endpapers, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Copy of Joanne Mott, "Undine, a Philosophical Interpretation", Pendle Hill Bulletin, no. 130, April 1956 mounted on rear pastedown. Mid-century ownership inscription of one Polly Oakley Hewitt on front free endpaper and contemporary ownership inscription of one F. H. Hague dated 20/2/14 on half-title. Natural discolouration to vellum, lacking original ties, occasional browning from mounts, short closed tear to fore-edge of p. 30; a very good copy. Seller Inventory # 169493

Bibliographic Details

Title: Undine. Adapted from the German by W. L. ...

Publisher: London: William Heinemann; Doubleday Page & Co., New York, 1909

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition