Richard Wagner — Das Rheingold & Die Walkure

Frankfurt, Rutten & Loening, 1910. First edition. Vellum. A beautifully and colourfully illustrated copy of Richard Wagner's epic drama, the first German Rakcham edition. The first German Rakcham edition. In the original German, published concurrently with the U.K. Rackham edition.Illustrated with a tipped-in colour frontispiece, and thirty-three tipped-in colour plates. Collated, complete.The first two of Richard Wagner's four epic music dramas, the series being titled 'Der Ring des Nibelungen', or 'The Ring of the Nibelung', or simply the 'Ring Cycle&apos.These dramas are loosely based on characters from Norse mythology and the Nibelungenlied, revolving around a magical ring, that grants the wearer the power to rule the world. It is said that the ring was forged by the Nibelung dwarf Alberich from gold that he stole from the River Rhine's maidens.Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Rackham was a book illustrator who illustrated editions of 'The Ingoldsby Legends', 'The Wind in the Willows', 'Grimm's Fairy Tales', and 'Gulliver's Travels', as well as contributing frequently to periodicals. He is considered to be one of the leaders of the 'Golden Age' of book illustrations. In the original publisher's quarter vellum binding with paper to the boards. Externally, generally smart, with light marks, including an ink mark to the front board. Spine is a little discoloured, as is usual with vellum. A small amount of loss to the head of the spine. Light rubbing to the rear board. Small chip to the front board. Front hinge is starting but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are a little age-toned and generally clean with scattered spots. Good . Ill.: Arthur Rackham. Good .