Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Fouque, De La Motte. Undine. William Heinemann and Doubleday Page & Co., London, 1909.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Rubbing to binding edges and corners. First several pages top corners are bumped. Bookplate on front endpaper. gift inscription on front free endpaper. 1909 on title page. 15 color plates with tissue guards.
Seller: Manchester By The Book, Manchester-By-the-Sea, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Description: 4to. 136 pp. Illustrated title in green & black, tipped-in colour frontisp., 14 tipped-in colour plates. Quarter-green publisher's cloth over illustrated green speckled boards, cover art on covers & spine by Rackham, illustrated endpapers by Rackham (edgewear, rubbing, minor wear & bumping to corners, minor scuffing to spine), still a VG- copy, from the library of Anne "Nita" Wilson Patton (1887-1971), sister to General George S. Patton (1885-1945). First trade edition of this tragic German tale of changelings, water-sprites, and fated love inspired by the occult works of Paracelsus, detailing how the mermaid water-sprite could gain a human soul by marrying a mortal. Motte Fouque's story reportedly inspired Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Mermaid."
Seller: Zephyr Used & Rare Books, Vancouver, WA, U.S.A.
Price: US$211.74 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Published: 1909. 1st Thus. DESCRIPTION: Blue cloth with the 15 tipped-in colour plates by Arthur Rackham with accompanying captioned tissue guards. Language: English. Book Condition: Fair: Wear to corners, edges and spine ends. Rubbed cloth with a few marks. Sunned upper spine end and edges. All plates present as prescribed with tissue guards. Tightly bound with foxed intact endpapers and strong hinges. Heavy foxing to fly pages and last two pages with lighter foxing up to page three and back to page 128. Occasional marks and fox patches to other pages. All plates are clean with a few marks to the guards. DJ Condition: No DJ Pages viii, 136. Size: 25.5cm by 19cm.
Seller: Jacket and Cloth, Chippenham, United Kingdom
Price: US$220.41 + shipping
Description: Tela editoriale con titoli e ricchi decori impressi in oro al ds. e al piatto anteriore (piccola fenditura alla cerniera antriore, lievi difetti al ds. e ai margini). Taglio superiore scuro. Carte di guardia illustrate. Firmetta di appartenenza all occhietto e minime bruniture sulle carte iniziali e finali, peraltro esemplare in più che buono stato di conservazione. Prima edizione ( trade edition ) illustrata da Rackham. Hudson, p. 168. 8vo (cm. 25), VIII-136 pp. con 15 tavole a colori f.t. applicate su cartoncino e protette da velina parlante (di cui una in antiporta).
Seller: Libreria Ex Libris ALAI-ILAB/LILA member, Roma, Italy
Price: US$224.57 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A good copy of the 1st edition in the original decorative cloth binding with decorative endpapers and 15 colour plates by Arthur Rackham. Top page edges blue - bottom edges untrimmed. The plates have captioned tissue-guards. Numerous black and white designs and illustrations. The binding has some edge/corner wear, a little fading to the spine and slight nibbling to top and bottom of spine. There is a slight fade to the outer edge of the front board but the beautiful gilt titles and decoration are clean and bright; and a little spotting to the back board. The whole book has a very slight lean. The decorative endpapers have slight browning - the front pastedown has an ink ownership signature. There is a tissue guarded frontispiece and decorative title page. The contents are in very good condition being clean with only the very occasional spot - the colour plates are beautiful. The tissue guard to plate 11 has a crease. A good copy.
Seller: ecbooks, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 4to. 25.5 by 19 cm. viii, 136 pp. 15 tipped-in color plates. Minor edgewear, with a touch of corner bumping. Clean and tight.
Seller: White Fox Rare Books, ABAA/ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$350.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 1909. Greenish grey cloth spine with elaborate gold fish decor. Greenish grey paper boards with green portraying Undine and fish. Jacket has same gold design of the spine and Undine on the board. Nice Firm Clean copy ! Jacket has edge wear, short tears. 136 pages. Undine is a fairy-tale novella (Erzählung) by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué in which Undine, a water spirit, marries a knight named Huldebrand in order to gain a soul. It is an early German romance, which has been translated into English and other languages. The references to Undine in such works as Charlotte Yonge's The Daisy Chain and Louisa Alcott's Little Women show that it was one of the best loved of all books for many 19th-century children. RBR14
Seller: BookScene, Hull, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$352.66 + shipping
Description: 4°. VIII, 136 S. mit SW-Illustrationen u. Vignetten + 15 mont. Farbtafeln + 15 Vorblätter mit Bildbeschreibungen, OLwd. mit goldgepr. Deckelillustration u. Rücken (dieser verblasst; etw. berieben, bestoßen u. mit kleinen Läsuren). Vorsätze u. einige Bl. gering stockfl., Vorsatz durch einlieg. alte Buchbeschreibung etw. nachgedunkelt. Flieg. Vorsatz verso mit Exlibris, Vortitelbl. mit Besitzvermerk aus dem Jahr 1909. Nur die Kartonbl. mit den Tafeln nachgedunkelt, die Tafeln ansich nicht betroffen. Insgesamt trotz dieser div. leichten Gbrsp. gutes bis sehr gutes Exemplar. 1. illustr. Ausgabe. Hudson 168. Vgl. Stuck-Villa II. D.19 (deutsche Ausgabe).
Seller: ANTIQUARIAT MATTHIAS LOIDL, Unterreit-Stadl, Germany
Price: US$384.98 + shipping
Description: , viii, 136 pages, 15 tipped in colour plates by Arthur Rackham and further black and white in text illustrations First Edition thus , corners and spine rubbed, cloth and gilt bright, foxing to endpapers, pages and plates clean, binding firm, book in very good condition , dustwrapper slightly rubbed at edges with small tear to fore edge and small chips to spine, good condition , blue cloth with gilt illustration to front and spine, illustrated endpapers, blue top edge , large octavo, 26 cm x 20 cm Hardback ISBN:
Seller: Keoghs Books, Skipton, United Kingdom
Price: US$595.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First printing; no additional printings. 1909 at title page. Dk. green textured boards, dk. green tweed spine wrap, black embossed cover design, gilt embossed titles and design, moderate shelf wear. Front cover w/Rackham depiction of Undine the mermaid on sea floor, head in hands, as fish swim about her. Flourishing sharp gilt decoration to spine. Heavy stock leaves, fine. Frontipiece plate of Undine dancing: "Undine outside the window". Stylish title page w/illustrated banners of mermaids in deco pattern above and fish in similar pattern below titles. Monochromatic illustrated endpapers by Arthur Rackham; design in green of Undine w/castle in b.g. while various orgres, elves, and creatures look down upon from branches and huddle off to side. Includes contents and list of illustrations. Bind fine; hinges intact. Rare dust wrapper, gilt cover and spine titles, design, matching boards, moderate discoloration, some chip; protected in new clear sleeve. Clean very good first edition rarity in original intact pictorial dj. Enchantingly illustrated by Arthur Rackham w/fifteen tipped-in color plates, mounted on matte leaves, each with a captioned tissue guard, and nearly forty drawings & designs as openings, headers and tail-pieces. This is the charming and dramatic story of Undine and the Knight Huldbrand of Ringstetten. The Knight wedded with a water-sprite, and what chanced captures the fantastic of age-old lore. Then, how the Knight died and was buried, and how Undine returned to her element beneath the Mediterranean. Printed by Ballantyne & Co. Limited, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London. Illustrations by Hentschel Colourtype. 136 pages. Insured post. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall
Seller: The BiblioFile, Rapid River, MI, U.S.A.
Price: US$769.96 + shipping
Description: First trade edition, first impression, this copy handsomely bound by the leading British bookbinders Bayntun-Riviere. 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 (239 x 176 mm). Mid 20th-century dark blue morocco by Bayntun (Rivière), spine with raised bands, lettering and elaborate gilt decoration in compartments, double gilt fillet frame on covers, gilt design of lilies, lily pads, and fish, board edges and turn ins tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. Colour frontispiece and 14 colour plates each mounted on plain paper in a grey printed frame with captioned tissue guards, title page printed in green and black, black and white drawings in the text. Spine slightly faded, a few spots of faint foxing to contents, otherwise clean. A very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
LA MOTTE-FOUQUE, Friedrich, Baron de. UNDINE. , 1909.
Price: US$775.00 + shipping
Description: (RACKHAM, Arthur, illus.) LA MOTTE-FOUQUE, Friedrich, Baron de. UNDINE. Adapted from the German by W. L. Courtney, and illustrated by Arthur Rackham. New York: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1909. First American edition. Illustrated with 15 tipped-in color plates, with captioned tissue guards, and head- and tail-pieces. Large octavo. viii,136 pp. Publisher's binding: Green cloth spine decoratively titled in gilt, green paper boards flecked with yellow, pictorially stamped in dark green on top board, illustrated endpapers, top-edge stained. One leaf (C5) has a small nick at fore-edge, else internally clean, with fine plates. Binding shows light edge rubbing and a bit of wear fore-corners. The dust-jacket is heavy, pale grey-green paper titled and decorated in gilt in the same fashion as the book. It soiled all over and darkened on spine, with shallow edge-chipping, and an imperceptible closed tear on front panel. A very good copy in a good - and rarely seen - dust-jacket.
Seller: Boston Book Company, Inc. ABAA, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$923.95 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A good to very good copy of the 1st limited edition signed by Arthur Rackham in the original full vellum binding with tipped in frontispiece and 14 further tipped in colour plates. No 116 of a 1,000 printed. Top page edges gilted, remainder untrimmed. The untrimmed edges are slightly spotted. Plates on brown stock paper with captioned tissue-guards. Numerous black and white designs and illustrations. The binding has bright gilt decoration and titles but the vellum is pitted throughout. There is light wear to corners. The remains of the original ties are present. Internally the book is complete and in near fine clean condition. There is the odd spot, mainly to tissue guards and light toning to pages adjacent to the brown stock paper that supports the plates. The final page and the half title which are adjacent to the brown endpapers are also lightly toned. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.
Seller: ecbooks, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom
Fouque, De La Motte. Undine. William Heinemann: Doubleday, Page & Co, London: New York, 1909.
Price: US$994.53 + shipping
Description: First Rackham edition, number 111 (of 1,000) of the deluxe issue, signed by the illustrator. In Undine, the tale of a water nymph in love with a mortal knight, Rackham creates elegant and acrobatic underwater figures amongst 'greeny blue reedy depths with the sun filtering through.' He achieved the sense of underwater suspension in the drawings by having models pose upon a trapeze set up in his studio (Hamilton, p. 101). 15 tipped in tissue-guarded colour plates, pp. viii, 136. Bound in vellum with gilt vignette depicting Undine stamped to front board as well as gilt stamped titles, gilt decorations and titles to spine, deckled edges, top edge gilt, taupe endpapers. folio. Vellum lightly soiled, half-title and final page toned, some instances of very light foxing but overall plates and pages bright and clean, binding firm, boards a little bowed, silk ties not present.
Seller: Keoghs Books, Skipton, United Kingdom
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: SIGNED FIRST EDITION, limited edition (#15 of 250). Quarter paper vellum spine and hardcover boards. Gilt lettering on the front cover. No lettering on the spine as issued. No previous owner's names, not exlibrary. One of Rackham's less common titles, this features 15 very beautiful tipped-in color plates (with printed guards) plus numerous text illustrations in line. Overall in EXCELLENT condition. A good gift. Photos available upon request.
Seller: Hirschfeld Galleries, Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
Price: US$1219.10 + shipping
Description: Deluxe edition, number 168 of 1000 copies signed by Rackham. 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. Mid 20th-century green half morocco, spine with raised bands, compartments lettered and framed in gilt, green cloth sides ruled in gilt, preserving original endpapers, top edge gilt, others uncut. Housed in a custom green cloth slipcase. Colour frontispiece and 14 colour plates each mounted on plain paper in a grey printed frame with captioned tissue guard, title page printed in green and black, black and white drawings in the text. Gift inscription to half-title dated 6 June 1910. Spine faded, intermittent light offsetting from plates, otherwise clean, a very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Arthur Rackham (ill). Undine (signed limited edition). William Heinemann, 1909.
Price: US$1350.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "Undine" by Friedrich de la Motte Pouque and ill. by Rackham. London: William Heinemann/New York: Doubleday, Page & Co. 1909 limited edition: #278/1,000 copies signed by Rackham. 4to. 136 pp. Translated from the German by W.L. Courtney. Illustrated with 15 mounted color plates, including frontispiece, plus 30 black and white in-text illustrations. Publisher's deluxe full vellum binding, stamped in gilt, silk ties wanting; top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; offsetting from plates and mounting paper to text block; book-plate on front paste-down. Latimore and Haskell, p. 34-35; Riall, p. 93-94.
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Price: US$1604.08 + shipping
Description: 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. Original vellum, spine and front cover decorated and lettered in gilt, brown endpapers, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. 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. 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: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$1750.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Beautifully signed at limitation page by Arthur Rackham: "This Edition is limited to one Thousand numbered and Signed Copies for Great Britain, Ireland and Colonies of which this is No. '200', 'Arthur Rackham'". 1909 at title page. Extra large 9 1/2" x 11 7/8" design. Cream colored vellum (leather) boards, gilt impressed cover and spine titles, designs, moderate shelf wear, some spotting, discoloration. Front cover with Rackham rendition of Undine the mermaid on sea floor, head in hands, as fish swim about her. Very ornately designed gilt titles and fish, decoration. Rough-cut deckled leaves, very good, clean; moderate toning at endpapers. Top text block edge with even cut and gilded. Frontipiece plate of Undine dancing: "Undine outside the window". Stylish title page with illustrated banners of mermaids in deco pattern above and fish in similar pattern below titles. Matte brown endpapers. Includes contents and list of illustrations. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Two golden brown ribbons originally attached through slits of front & back boards, set into volume, some crease. Very good, sharp interior and plates w/some spotting to exterior. Enchantingly illustrated by Arthur Rackham w/fifteen tipped-in color plates, mounted on matte leaves, each with a captioned fine tissue guard, and nearly forty drawings & designs as vignettes, headers and tail-pieces. This is the charming and dramatic story of the Knight Huldbrand of Ringstetten and of Undine. And how the Knight wedded with a water-sprite, and what chanced therefrom. Then, how the Knight died and was buried, and how Undine returned to her element beneath the Mediterranean Sea. Printed by Ballantyne & Co. Limited, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London. Illustrations by Hentschel Colourtype. 136 pages. Insured post. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall
Seller: The BiblioFile, Rapid River, MI, U.S.A.
Price: US$1850.00 + shipping
Description: "A Masterpiece of Sympathetic Understanding" Edition de Luxe Signed by the Artist [RACKHAM, Arthur, illustrator]. FOUQUE, De La Motte. Undine. Adapted from the German by W.L. Courtney and Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. London / New York: William Heinemann / Doubleday, Page & Co., 1909. Edition de Luxe, limited to 1000 large-paper copies signed by the artist, this being copy no. 226. Quarto. Fifteen color plates mounted on brown art paper, with captioned tissue guards. Head- tailpieces. Handsomely rebound ca. 1960 by Bayntun (Rivière) in full blue crushed levant morocco. Covers decoratively bordered in gilt, spine with five raised bands, decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, gilt board edges and turn-ins, cockerel end-papers, top edge gilt, others uncut. There is a very slight 2 1/2 inch crack on the upper joint (but still sound), otherwise a very fine copy. Housed in a fleece-lined, light blue cloth slip-case. "With the aqueous world of Undine Rackham found an opportunity to revive and develop his earlier art nouveau linear decorative drawing. especially in the need to incorporate waves and water currents in his pictures. He was thus able to connect a felicitious quality of decoration into his plates, was well as a new feeling for flat pattern which harks back to fin de siècle without being too openly mannered" (Gettings, Arthur Rackham, p. 123). "Although the waves and eddies of Undine bear the mark of Art Nouveau, the work was still another step forward for Rackham, the unity of conception in the line drawings and the colour plates, the assertion of contrast in the moods of the heroine, rendering it a masterpiece of sympathetic understanding" (Hudson, p. 80). Latimore and Haskell p. 34. Riall p. 93.
Seller: David Brass Rare Books, Inc., Calabasas, CA, U.S.A.