Rackham-Springtide650.jpg
Signed by Arthur Rackham

RACKHAM, ARTHUR; SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES

Springtide of Life

London: William Heinemann, 1918
  • $950.00

RACKHAM, ARTHUR; SWINBURNE, ALGERNON CHARLES.

The Springtide of Life. Poems of Childhood by Algernon Charles Swinburne.

SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION, number 354 of only 765 copies signed by illustrator Arthur Rackham. Beautifully illustrated collection of Swinburne’s children’s poems, with nine mounted colored plates and 52 black and white drawings.

One reason why Swinburne never brought out such a collection was his failure to find an artist who could interpret to his satisfaction the simplicity and freshness of his verses. We are fortunate in having secured, in Mr. Arthur Rackham, one whose delicate and romantic fancy is in sensitive harmony with Swinburne’s, and who understands, no less than he did, ho ‘Heaven lies about us in our infancy.'” –Edmund Gosse, Preface

Quarto, original half vellum over parchment boards with gilt designs. Some soiling to endpapers, binding with only the slightest soiling; an exceptionally clean copy.