The Ring of the Niblung: A Trilogy in One Volume with Illustrations by Arthur Rackham

London: William Heinemann Ltd. - Doubleday, Page & Co., 1939. Stated at copyright: First Edition published 1939. Bluish-green full-cloth boards, sharp black cover and spine design, titles, light shelf wear, rub. Crisp cover design features titles w/stylized dragon eating its tail and spine features titles with classic ouroboros insignia. Pages near fine; moderate toning to exterior text block. Decorated endpapers with floating fairies. Classic antiquarian bookstore label at back pastedown of a bibliophile carrying a tall leaning stack of books: "Levinson's, The Book Store, Sacramento." Bind good, square; hinges intact. Rare dust wrapper, moderate edge wear, rub, chip, adhesive; unclipped 21/- net., protected in new clear sleeve. Rare wrapper in white features Rackham illustration of Loge and maidens at front panel: "The Rhine's pure-gleaming children Told me of their sorrow." Spine features titles, ourobouros with Heinemann printed at heel. Illustrated throughout with the epic imagery of the saga by Arthur Rackham on smooth, coated plates. Very good first edition of this scarce combined volume in good, intact wrapper - rare in any form. Printed in Great Britain by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, Duchy Street, Stamford Street, London, and at Beccles. 160 and 182 pages of text with two dozen plates in each book of this single volume. Insured post. Works based on characters from the Norse sagas, and translated here into English by Margaret Armour. The saga includes: ‘The Rhinegold’ - the prelude, ‘The Valkyrie’ - the first day of the trilogy, ‘Siegfried’ - the second day of the trilogy, and ‘The Twilight of the Gods’ - the third day of the trilogy. 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 and The Valkyrie’ and 'Siegfried and The Twilight of the Gods' 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 Thus. Hard Cover. Very Good/Good. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.