The Ring of Niblung illustrated by Arthur Rackham 26 ill Rare

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The Ring of Niblung illustrated by Arthur Rackham 26 ill Rare:
$105.00

The Ring of the Niblung

the Ring of the Niblung is composed of the following stories:

Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods

and

The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie

With illustrations by Arthur Rackham

Published by: Doubleday, Page, and Co

Printed in: nd, C 1920

Pages: 26 Full page color illustrations

Illustrations by: Arthur Rackham

----- Features -----

All 26 original color illustrations by Arthur Rackham

Every illustration has an intact tissue guard with the illustrations title printed on

Gilt Lettering and illustration to front cover

Condition

The book is in fair condition. It\'s a large book, measuring 7 1/2\" x 10\". There are no signatures, bookplates, or markings of any kind in the book. There ia chip to the top of the spine and some wear to the edges of the spine. There is some wear to the hinges. This book contains all 26 of Rackham\'s original illustrations, with none missing, removed, or loose. They are all in excellent condition and have there original tissue guards. A few pages have some foxing, but most of the book is clean. These early Rackham\'s are often split up and sold separately for their beautiful prints. A rare find complete with many beautiful illustrations.

Background

At the bottom of the River Rhine, the three Rhinemaidens are playing together near the Rheingold. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, appears from a deep chasm and tries to woo them. Struck by Alberich\'s ugliness, the Rhinemaidens mock his advances and he grows angry. As the sun begins to rise, maidens praise the golden glow atop a nearby rock; Alberich asks what it is. The Rhinemaidens tell him about the Rhinegold, which their father has ordered them to guard: it can be made into a magic Ring which will let its bearer rule the world, but only by someone who first renounces love.

During a raging storm, Siegmund seeks shelter at the house of the warrior Hunding. Siegmund tells Sieglinde, Hunding\'s unhappy wife, that he is fleeing from enemies. Hunding reluctantly offers Siegmund the hospitality demanded by custom. Sieglinde urges him to tell his tale. When Siegmund finishes, Hunding reveals that he is one of Siegmund\'s pursuers. He grants Siegmund a night\'s stay, but they are to do battle in the morning. She reveals that she was forced into a marriage with Hunding. During their wedding feast, an old man had appeared and plunged a sword into the trunk of the ash tree in the center of the room, which Hunding and his companions had all failed to remove. She expresses her longing for the hero who could draw the sword and save her. Siegmund expresses his love for her, which she reciprocates. Siegmund easily draws the sword forth, and names the blade \"Nothung\"; (or needful, for this is the weapon that he needs for his forthcoming fight with Hunding). Wotan, ruler of the Gods, instructs Brünnhilde, his Valkyrie daughter, to protect Siegmund in his coming fight with Hunding.

Mime, Alberich\'s brother, is plotting to obtain the Ring for himself He has raised Siegfried, Siegmund\'s son, to kill Fafner, the dragon who guards th ring, for him. He needs a sword for Siegfried to use, but the youth has broken every blade he has made. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest, demanding to know his parentage, and Mime is forced to explain how he took in Siegfried\'s mother, Sieglinde, who died giving birth. He shows Siegfried the shards of Nothung, and Siegfried orders him to reforge the sword. Siegfried returns and is annoyed by Mime\'s lack of progress. Mime realizes that the one thing he has not taught Siegfried is fear. Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mime promises to teach him by bringing him to Fafner the dragon. Since Mime was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself. Mime, brews a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after the youth has defeated the dragon. He then plays a tune on his horn, which brings Fafner out of his cave. After a short exchange, they fight, and Siegfried stabs Fafner in the heart with Nothung. In his last moments, Fafner learns Siegfried\'s name, and tells him to beware of treachery.

Brünnhilde sends Siegfried off to new adventures, urging him to keep their love in mind. As a pledge of fidelity, Siegfried gives her the ring. Siegfried appears at Gibichung Hall, seeking to meet Gunther. Gunther extends his hospitality to the hero, and Gutrune offers him a love potion to trick him into marriage. Unaware of the deception, Siegfried toasts Brünnhilde and their love. Drinking the potion, he loses his memory of Brünnhilde, and falls in love with Gutrune instead. The Rhinemaidens meanwhile mourn the lost Rheingold. Siegfried happens by while hunting with Gunther and Hagan, Alberich\'s son. The maidens urge him to return the Ring and avoid its curse, but he ignores their tidings of doom. Suddenly, two ravens fly out of a bush, and as Siegfried watches them, Hagen stabs him in the back with his spear, trying to claim the ring for his own. Brünnhilde appears and orders for a huge funeral pyre to be assembled by the river. She takes the Ring and tells the Rhinemaidens to claim it from her ashes, once fire has cleansed it of its curse. The fire flares up as the Rhine overflows its banks, bearing the Rhinemaidens on its waves. Hagen madly tries to steal the Ring from them and drowns. The Rhinemaidens swim away, bearing the Ring in triumph.

---------- About the Illustrator---------

Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was a prolific English book illustrator. He was born in London as one of 12 children. At the age of 18, he worked as a clerk at the Westminster Fire Office and began studying at the Lambeth School of Art. In 1892, he quit his job and started working for The Westminster Budget as a reporter and illustrator. His works were included in numerous exhibitions, including one at the Louvre in Paris in 1914. While he may be best known for his elaborate illustrations of children\'s literature and fairy tales, he also illustrated books for adult readers, including A Midsummer Night\'s Dream (1908) and Undine.

---------- Return Policy----------

If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason, a FULL refund will be issued so long as I am notified within 14 days after you receive your purchase. The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.

A great chance to own a rare copy of a classic Legend.

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