The Tale of Lohengrin: Knight of the Swan After the Drama By Richard Wagner and Presented by Willy Pogany
by Wagner, Richard; Rolleston, T. W. (Translation)
- Used
- good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Good
- Seller
-
Rapid River, Michigan, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., 1913. First edition thus; from colophon: "The entire book, including auto-lithographs, is printed by off-set lithography by Vincent Brooks, Day and Sons Ltd. London, the four-colour reproductions are the work of The Dux Engraving Co. Ltd. Glasgow." No date; circa 1913. Oversize 8" x 11" folio design. Fine brown suede leather over thick semi-soft cover w/elaborately tooled ornamentation and design, some shelf wear, discoloration; wear to leather edge extending over stiffer cover. Cover impressed w/gilt image of swans flying above landscape within gilt border. Spine richly displays complete titles in gilt w/stylized heart and swan at top, bottom. Thick deckled pages near fine; no writing or marks. Detailed slate, green, and brown imagery at front, back endpapers. Bind good, some cant. Elaborate, profuse, symbolical and complexly illustrated edition by Willy Pogany. Eight deliciously, richly subdued four-color plates in blending watercolor-like presentation. Enchanting monochromatic, two and three-color designs throughout w/flourishing borders, accents, colors; also chiaroscuro-like black imagery among other varied methods. Although other artists have illustrated various editions, Willy Pogany captures the surreal nature of this tale. An attractive, solid example of this rarity. The son of Parzival (Percival), Lohengrin is a knight of the Holy Grail sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden who can never ask his identity. His story, which first appears in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, is a version of the Knight of the Swan legend passed on in a variety of medieval tales. Wolfram's story was expanded in two later romances. Presented here is Richard Wagner's opera of Lohengrin based upon these legends. William Andrew ("Willy") Pogany, born Vilmos Andreas Pogany, was a prolific Hungarian illustrator. Pogany's best known works consist of illustrations of classic myths and legends done in the Art Nouveau style. The publication of Pogany's Lohengrin was the final act in his trilogy of masterworks focused on Wagner's Germanic tales, and one of the quintet that is considered his finest work. Pogany clearly approached the commission to illustrate Lohengrin as an opportunity to improve and extend techniques that he had developed through his preceding works: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Tannhäuser and Parsifal; four books that immortalized him as an illustrator. His commitment to ongoing innovation resulted in an incredible suite of illustrations, including color lithographs, monotone and marginal illustrations, and the delightful tipped-in color plates (produced with a four-color process) included in here. Themes of medieval chivalry, erotic love and moral tests are illustrated in a lavish fashion by Pogány with an outstanding use of iconography, form and color. A rare and beautiful book. Insured post.. First Edition. Full-Leather. Good. Illus. by Pogany, Willy. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Book.
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Details
- Bookseller
- BiblioStax (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 020799
- Title
- The Tale of Lohengrin: Knight of the Swan After the Drama By Richard Wagner and Presented by Willy Pogany
- Author
- Wagner, Richard; Rolleston, T. W. (Translation)
- Illustrator
- Pogany, Willy
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Publisher
- George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd.
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1913
- Size
- 4to - over 9¾" - 12&
Terms of Sale
BiblioStax
Satisfaction is guaranteed. Refund will be negotiated and granted for sufficient reason.
About the Seller
BiblioStax
Biblio member since 2005
Rapid River, Michigan
About BiblioStax
We specialize in modern rarities and other hard to find materials. Items are accurately and fully described. Open communication and satisfaction is our goal.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Shelf Wear
- Shelf wear (shelfwear) describes damage caused over time to a book by placing and removing a book from a shelf. This damage is...
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- G
- Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (as defined by AB...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...