Arthur Rackham Collection at Spirit of the Ages

As you make your way through this page, you will have the opportunity to consider the more than 250 antique

The contributions from Arthur Rackham are drawn from his illustrations shown on pristine 1st Edition plates for

As enthusiasts, while preparing these illustrations in the largest size possible, we appreciate the desirability of replicating

the line, form, colour and finish of these wonderful images just as they would have appeared to Rackham. To that end,

throughout the page that follows, we have shown images optimised for reproduction in larger formats - usually in a

manner pleasing for 10 x 13" or 10 x 15" framing options. We consider those formats identified to be the largest that

allows the accurate reproduction of form, line and colour as prepared by Rackham and originally printed in the

1st Edition plates. To reproduce the images, we have utilised a high definition capture and reproduction technique

and ensure that the prints are displayed with a satin finish that reproduces the visual appearance of the original plates.

Purchasing one, or more, of those reproductions is a simple as clicking on the "Add to Cart" buttons and following the prompts

We have also developed a range of Giftware that includes images reproduced on cards, infants' clothing, T-shirts and

unmatted, matted or framed prints (8x6", 10x8", 12x10", 15x10" and 30 x 20" images sizes). Pricing starts at US$4 for single

Gift Cards (US$18 for select packs of 6) and 10 x 8" prints (double-matted and framed) begin at US$60. Further details

on those reproduction images are available at the Giftware section of this site.

with the Stock Code of the plate, or plates in question and a brief description.

In the meantime, enjoy browsing our selection of genuine vintage and antique plates.

Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) is one of the great artists associated with the Golden Age of Fantasy Illustration.

Rackham's illustrations are characterised by a sinuous pen line softened with muted watercolour - a feature that is

typical of the Art Nouveau aesthete. His forests are looming with frightening grasping roots, his fair maidens are

sensuous - yet somehow chaste - and his ogres and troll ugly enough to repulse, but with sufficient good nature

A rare copy of Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens - illustrated by Rackham and published by Hodder and Stoughton (London) in 1906.

Printing for this Edition was undertaken by T and A Constable, Printers to His Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press.

To the left, we show an example with the original

decoratively gilt-stamped red cloth cover.

On the right, we show the decorated

Title Page from this rare 1st Edition.

Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens - a portion of Barrie's play, The Little White Bird - was first published in 1906 (in the

1st Edition illustrated by Rackham). It tells the story of Peter Pan - the eternal child living in Neverland - who often

visits London to listen to bedtime stories told by Mrs Mary Darling to her children (one of whom is Wendy). After

Wendy helps Peter become re-attached to his shadow, he takes her to Neverland to be mother to his gang of Lost

Boys (the children lost in Kensington Gardens). Many adventures - including the dangerous flight to Neverland and

Rackham's illustrations for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens are a tour de force and epitomise the sublime nature of

Peter Pan's Map of Kensington Gardens

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There now arose a mighty storm, and he was

tossed this way and that

(Frontispiece)

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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The Kensington Garden are in London,

where the King lives

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The lady with the balloons,

who sits just outside

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In the Broad Walk you meet all the people who are worth knowing

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The Hump, which is the part of the Broad Walk,

where all the big races are run

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There is almost nothing that has such a

keen sense of fun as a fallen leaf

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The Serpentine is a lovely lake, and there is

a drowned forest at the bottom of it. If you

peer over the edge you can see the trees all

growing upside down, and they say that at

night there are also drowned stars in it

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The fairies of the Serpentine

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The island on which all the birds are born that

become baby boys and girls

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Old Mr Salford was a crab-apple of an old

gentleman who wandered all day in the Gardens

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The fairies have their tiffs with the birds

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When he heard Peter's voice he popped

in alarm behind a tulip

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A band of workmen, who were sawing down

a toadstool, rushed away, leaving their tools

behind them

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Put his strange case before old Solomon Caw

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Peter screamed out "Do it again!" and with

great good-nature they did it several times

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A hundred flew off with the string,

and Peter clung to the tail

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After this the birds said that they would

help him no more in his mad enterprise

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"Preposterous!" cried Solomon in a rage

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For years he had been quietly filling his stocking

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When you meet grown-up people in the Gardens

who puff and blow as if they thought themselves

bigger than they are

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He passed under the bridge and came within full

sight of the delectable Gardens

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Fairies are all more or less in hiding

until dusk

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When they think you are not looking they

skip along pretty lively

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But if you look, and they fear there is no

time to hide, they stand quite still pretending

to be flowers

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The fairies are exquisite dancers

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These tricky fairies sometimes slyly change the

board on a ball night

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Linkmen running in front carrying

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When her Majesty wants to know the time

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The fairies sit round on mushrooms, and

at first they are well behaved

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Butter is got from the roots of old trees

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Wallflower juice is good for reviving dancers

who fall to the ground in a fit

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Peter Pan is the fairies' orchestra

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They all tickled him on the shoulder

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One day they were overheard by a fairy

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The little people weave their summer curtains with skeleton leaves

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An afternoon when the gardens were white with snow

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She ran to St Gover's Well and hid

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An elderberry hobbled across the walk, and

stood chatting with some young quinces

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A chrysanthemum heard her, and said

pointedly, "Hoity-toity, what is this?"

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They warned her

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Queen Mab, who rules in the Gardens

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Shook his bald head and murmured,

"Cold, quite cold"

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Fairies never say, "We feel happy";

what they say is, "We feel dancey"

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Looking very undancey indeed

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"My Lord Duke," said the physician elatedly,

"I have the honour to inform your excellency

that your grace is in love"

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Building the house for Maimie

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If the bad ones among the fairies happen to be out

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They will certainly mischief you

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I think quite the most touching sight in the Gardens

is the two tombstones of Walter Stephen Matthews

and Phœbe Phelps

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A rare copy of Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - illustrated by Rackham and co-published by William Heinemann (London) and Doubleday Page & Co. (New York) in 1907.

On the left, we show a copy with the original

stamped red cloth cover with pictorial paste-down

depicting the Mock Turtle, Alice and the Gryphon.

To the right, we show the decorative

Title Page from this rare 1st Edition.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was penned by Rev Charles Lutwidge Dodgson - also known as Lewis Carroll - in

1863. The tale arose from a story Dodgson had improvised during a row up the Thames with his colleague,

Rev Robinson Duckworth, and three little girls, the Liddell sisters: Lorina Charlotte; Alice Pleasance; and Edith Mary.

Rackham's illustrations to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - first published in 1907 - chart the progress of the tale: from

meeting a group of animals swimming in a sea of her own tears (shortly after following the rabbit down the rabbit hole),

the Duchess' baby changing into a pig, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Alice's meeting with the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle

and the trial of the Knave of Hearts in which Alice is accused of stealing tarts.

Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Alice

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Monotone Illustration

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Down the Rabbit Hole

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Curiouser and curiouser

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The Pool of Tears

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They all crowded round it panting and

asking, "But who has won?"

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Monotone Illustration

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"Why, Mary Ann, what are you doing out here?"

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Advice from a Caterpillar

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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An unusually large saucepan flew close by it,

and very nearly carried it off

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It grunted again so violently that she looked

down into its face in some alarm

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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A Mad Tea Party

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The Queen turned angrily away from him

and said to the Knave, "Turn them over"

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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The Queen never left off quarrelling with the

other players, and shouting "Off with his head!"

or "Off with her head!"

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Monotone Illustration

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The Mock Turtle drew a long breath and

said, "That's very curious"

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Monotone Illustration

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Who stole the tarts?

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Monotone Illustration

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At this the whole pack rose up into the air,

and came flying down upon her

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A rare copy of Shakespeare's A Midsummer-Night's Dream - illustrated by Rackham and co-published by William Heinemann (London) and Doubleday, Page & Co (New York) in 1908.

To the left, we show the original decoratively

gilt-stamped off-white cloth cover.

On the right, we show the decorative

Title Page to this rare Edition.

A Midsummer-Night's Dream is a romantic comedy emanating from the genius of William Shakespeare. It tells a tale

of four Athenian lovers, a group of amateur actors and their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens and

Rackham's illustrations for A Midsummer-Night's Dream capture the dreamy and romantically magical character

Titania lying asleep

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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... the moon, like to a silver bow

New-bent in heaven

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Hermia

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Helena

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... where often you and I

Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,

Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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Let me play the lion too

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Monotone Illustration

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The Duke Oak

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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How now, spirit! whither wander you?

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Monotone Illustration

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Monotone Illustration

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She never had so sweet a changeling

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And now they never meet in grove or green,

By fountain clear, or spangled starlight sheen,

But they do square

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... are not you he

That frights the maidens of the villagery

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Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?

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I am that merry wanderer of the night

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- "down topples she,"

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... Fairies, away!

We shall chide downright, if I longer stay

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To heart the sea-maid's music

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Maidens call it love-in-idleness

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Ere the Leviathan can swim a league

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Come, now a roundel

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Up and down, up and down,

Goblin, lead them up and down

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Never so weary, never so in woe

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On the ground

Sleep sound:

I'll apply

To your eye,

Gentle lover, remedy

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Kill me a red-hipped bumble-bee

on the top of a thistle

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Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms

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... and her fairies sent

To bear him to my bower in fairy land

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We will, fair queen, up to the mountain's top

And mark the musical confusion

Of hounds and echo in conjunction

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... Are you sure

That we are awake? It seems to me

That yet we sleep, we dream

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... almost fairy time

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Undine (1909)

A rare copy of de la Motte Fouqué's Undine - illustrated by Rackham and produced by William Heinemann (London) in 1909.

This copy shows the original decoratively gilt-stamped blue cloth cove