The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie with Illustrations by Arthur Rackham

London - New York: William Heinemann Ltd. - Doubleday, Page & Co., 1920. A fourth impression, 1920. Fine dark honey brown full-cloth boards, sharp black cover and spine design, titles, light shelf wear. Crisp cover design features titles w/stylized dragon eating its tail and spine features titles w/classic ouroboros insignia. Pages near fine; no writing. Decorated endpapers w/floating fairies w/some toning. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Original brown dust wrapper matching board design with pounds/shillings price in Great Britain and Ireland added to spine detail. Back panel w/list of titles from Wm. Heinemann featuring the illustrations of Arthur Rackham. Front flap features publisher's greeting and contact. Wrapper fully intact w/moderate edge wear; protected in new clear sleeve. Printed in Great Britain by R. Clay and Sons, Ltd., Brunswick Street, Stamford Street, Suffolk. 160 pages of text w/34 tipped-in plates. Insured post. This volume is based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas, and translated here into English by Margaret Armour. Initially establishing his reputation as a romantic composer, Wagner revolutionized opera through his concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk (‘total work of art’), by which he sought to synthesise the poetic, visual, musical and dramatic arts. This edition of ‘THE RHINEGOLD & THE VALKYRIE’ is heightened by the dazzling color illustrations of a master of the craft, Arthur Rackham. One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Wagner’s captivating storytelling.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.