The Ring of the Niblung: A Trilogy with a Prelude by Richard Wagner with 48 Illustrations in Colors by Arthur Rackham

New York: Garden City Publishing , 1939. Stated at copyright: Garden City Publishing, 1939. Dark blue buckram (full cloth) boards, gilt impressed spine titles, light shelf wear. Pages near fine, no writing; light toning, fox to few. Decorated endpapers w/floating fairies in outlines of monochromatic blue. Navy top-stain. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Illustrated throughout with the epic, richly colored imagery of the saga by Arthur Rackham on forty-eight smooth coated plates. Additionally, headers, vignettes and tailpieces adorn throughout. Rare dust wrapper in light green with gothic stylized cover and spine titles, front panel features bordered Rackham illustration of Wotan on stallion: "Raging, Wotan, Rides to the rock! Like a storm-wind he comes!" Moderate edge wear, rub, toning; protected in new clear sleeve. Front flap features summary of this title and available editions. Back flap features summary advert for Sixteen Famous American Plays. Back panel features list and short summaries of Omnibus Books from Garden City Publishing. Near fine first edition thus of this trilogy in near very good wrapper. 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. Translated by Margaret Armour, this is the complete texts of Wagner's immortal works. 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. 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.. First Edition Thus. Hard Cover. Fine/Very Good. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.