Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$3750.00 + shipping
Description: This exceptional 1905 edition of Washington Irvings classic tale was notably and lavishly illustrated by Arthur Rackham. This is not just an aesthetically arresting and highly collectable edition on its own merits, but represents both a stylistic and professional turning point for the celebrated illustrator who contributed his art and his signature to this edition. Rip van Winkle was the first book entirely illustrated by Rackham to be issued in a limited edition format and "established him as the leading decorative illustrator of the Edwardian period." Indeed, it was owing to exhibit of Rackhams Rip van Winkle illustrations in Leicester Galleries, London, that "J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, commissioned Rackham to illustrate the first edition of his classic children's tale Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906)".This editions 250 copies were bound in illustrated vellum, lettered in gilt on the front cover and spine, the front cover featuring a pictorial image blocked in gilt, the center fore edges fitted with gold silk ties. The contents are printed on watermarked paper with untrimmed fore and bottom edges and gilt top edges. As frontispiece and then following the text are 50 color plates tipped onto brown paper, each with captioned tissue guards The volume is protected within a slipcase featuring a curved, beveled, and white Morocco-trimmed opening, purple velvet-lined interior, and tan buckram sides.This copy is in very good condition. The half-title verso limitation is hand-numbered "22" above the illustrators signature, "Arthur Rackham". The vellum binding is square and tight with sharp corners. The original gold silk ties remain intact. The binding shows moderate overall soiling and natural toning, tiny splits starting at the lower joints, and light wear to the corners, upper edges, and joints, presumably from contact with the slipcase. The contents are beautifully clean and bright. We find no reportable spotting. All illustrations and captioned tissue guards appear intact. The top edge gilt remains bright, though with mild abrasions. The heavy, rigid slipcase is fully intact and clean, apart from a hint of soiling to the white leather-trimmed opening.The reputation and fortunes of gifted painter and illustrator Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) rose along with the fashion for lavishly produced gift books at the end of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 20th century, "His name and reliability for delivery and content became known to publishers and public alike, and he was increasingly in demand." Rackhams style both evolved over time and has since informed numerous imitators. "In the earlier booksRackham'sstyle tended to take on the appearance of woodcuts, with the main features being drawn in thick pen and brush. From 1905 (when he produced and signed this edition) to 1910, as printing techniques improved, his line became sharper and likewise his detail more intense." Notably inRip Van Winkle[1905] andA Midsummer Night's Dream(1908) he developed his gift for drawing witches, gnomes, fairies, and anthropomorphized trees and brought them to a pitch of vivid characterization." As evidenced by his illustrations for Rip van Winkle, "Rackhamwas not a bold colourist. He tended to restrict his palette to soft blues, greens, and reds, in local highlights or in several layers of transparent watercolour wash, over a yellowy-buff tone which gives to the whole a quality of vellum, or age."The First World War effectively destroyed the illustrated gift-book market, and this broughtRackhama financial and professional reverse." Rackham was, however, "enough of a celebrity" to continue to be commissioned for his work, the principal market for which shifted to the United States. As a child, Rackham "won prizes for drawing, and made many visits to the British Museum and the Natural History Museum, where he painted from the exhibits." Now his own works are in the British Museum, among many others. (Reference: ODNB) Limited, numbered, finely-bound deluxe, signed edition.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Irving, Washington. Rip Van Winkle. William Heinemann, London, 1905.
Price: US$4181.61 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 4to. 1905. Edition limited to 250 copies. This copy 218, signed by illustrator. 50 tissue guarded mounted plates. One plate corner creased. Tissue guards cockled. E.p.s slightly foxed with faint browning to top margin otherwise clean and bright. T.e.g. Full vellum gilt with silk ties intact. Images available on request.
Seller: Bath House Books, Ditchingham, United Kingdom
Price: US$5674.12 + shipping
Description: 290mm x 230mm (11" x 9"). viii, 57pp + plates. 50 tipped-in colour plates illustrated by Rackham all with captioned tissue-guards bound into the rear. The first book entirely illustrated by Rackham to be issued as a Limited Edition. Signed by Arthur Rackham on the Limitation page. Heavy item - shipping supplement may apply for overseas. VG : in very good condition without dust jacket as issued. Boards rubbed and slightly bowed and darkened. Light foxing to endpapers. Heraldic plate to front pastedown Cream gilt-illustrated vellum cover
Seller: Barter Books Ltd, Alnwick, NORTH, United Kingdom
Price: US$6111.58 + shipping
Description: Signed limited edition, number 229 of 250 copies signed by the artist. This was the first book wholly illustrated by Rackham to be issued in a limited edition format and it immediately established him as the leading illustrator of lavishly produced gift books in the Edwardian era. In March 1905 Rackham's originals were exhibited at the Leicester Galleries, which led to this deluxe edition being fully subscribed before the exhibition had closed. The exhibition also attracted the attention of J. M. Barrie, who then commissioned Rackham's next book, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906). Latimore & Haskell, p. 26; Riall, pp. 69-70. Quarto. Original vellum, spine and front cover lettered in gilt, pictorial image blocked in gilt to front cover, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Housed in custom blue cloth chemise and slipcase by James McDonald Co. of New York. Colour frontispiece and 50 colour plates tipped to brown paper with captioned tissue guards, vignettes on black- and green-lettered title page, 2 line drawings and a historiated initial in the text, all by Rackham. Engraved art nouveau bookplate of Matt Gosset by Robert Anning Bell (1863-1933). Lacking silk ties, vellum slightly soiled, but notably square, trivial short split to foot of front inner hinge, foxing to endpapers, plates bright. A very good copy indeed.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Irving, Washington. [Arthur Rackham]. Rip Van Winkle.. William Heinemann Ltd, London, 1905.
Price: US$6500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Original publisher's full vellum, gilt stamped title and vignette, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, housed in felt-lined slipcase, (11.25 x 9.25 inches). Deluxe Limited Edition, one of only 250 copies SIGNED by Arthur Rackham on limitation page. viii, 57, pages; illustrated by color frontispiece and 49 color plates mounted on brown paper with captioned tissue guards, b&w illustrations in the text, all by Rackham. The first (and now scarciest) book illustrated by Rackham to be issued in the signed limited edition format, later titles had much larger printings. Boards are clean and bright, with only minor expected bowing, some typical light spotting to endpages (interior text and all plates are clean and bright), silk-ties detached but present, slipcase shows wear. An honest, unsophisticated (i.e., unrestored) copy for the sophisticated collector. Size: Quarto
Seller: Books & Bidders Antiquarian Booksellers, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.
Price: US$7076.56 + shipping
Description: Signed limited edition, number 48 of 250 copies signed by the artist. This was the first book wholly illustrated by Rackham to be issued in a limited edition format and it immediately established him as the leading illustrator of lavishly produced gift books in the Edwardian era. In March 1905, Rackham's original watercolours were exhibited and sold at the Leicester Galleries which led to the deluxe edition being fully subscribed before the exhibition had closed. This copy includes a receipt from Bickers & Son, Ltd, Booksellers, Bookbinders and Publishers, of Charles Street, Haymarket, London, dated 9 November 1927. The purchaser was a C. P. MacArthur, Esq., Junior, although the account was care of Dr Shearer of the Grosvenor Library in Buffalo, New York. Augustus Hunt Shearer (1878-1941) was also especially active in the Bibliographical Society of America, serving on the Council of the Society for many years. Latimore & Haskell, p. 26; Riall, pp. 69-70. Quarto. Original vellum, lettering to spine in gilt, lettering and pictorial decoration to front cover in gilt, top edge gilt. Colour frontispiece and 50 colour plates mounted on brown paper with captioned tissue guards, black and white illustrations in the text, all by Rackham. A bright copy. Some minor marks at foot of spine, occasional dust soiling, lacking silk ties: a near-fine copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
RACKHAM Arthur IRVING Washington. Rip Van Winkle. , 1905.
Price: US$12000.00 + shipping
Description: "(RACKHAM, Arthur) IRVING, Washington. Rip Van Winkle. London: William Heinemann, 1905. Quarto, original full pictorial vellum gilt, renewed ribbon ties, top edge gilt, uncut. Housed in a custom slipcase. $12,000.Deluxe signed limited first edition, with 51 full-color mounted plates by Rackham, number 137 of only 250 copies signed by Rackham, one of the smallest limitations for a Rackham title and "the first book illustrated wholly by Rackham to be issued in a limited edition" (Riall). One of the most scarce and desirable Rackham titles."Rip Van Winkle of 1905 was a turning point in Rackham's career because of its 51 color plates. Known previously as a black-and-white artist, Rackham with this book achieved preeminence as an illustrator working in the three-color process Rackham's Rip Van Winkle is among the most thoroughly illustrated of English books His 50 illustrations, which are grouped at the end, come at a rate of one to every two or three sentences presenting Rip's story in the most ingenious and engaging detail" (Ray, 203-04). Ray 328. Latimore & Haskell, 26. Riall, 69. Bookplate; letters from a Rackham collector to a book dealer laid in.Expert repairs to text block, a beautiful copy in near-fine condition."
Seller: Bauman Rare Books, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.