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"Comus" (1921)

 

Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

 

 

"Comus" (1921) was an illustrated variant of the 17th Century moral tale by John Milton, "The Masque of Comus".

 

The publication has originally been scheduled for release the previous decade, but Rackham's commission was delayed due to commercial

considerations that prevailed during World War I.

 

"The Masque of Comus" was borne from a collaboration between John Milton and Henry Lawes. It tells a story about virtue and grace, two

matters upon which Milton had meditated profoundly. The tale is of a lady, lost from her brothers in a wood, who is threatened by the son of

Bacchus and Circe. The loss of her virginity follows but through supernatural means, she is saved.

 

The original performance of "The Masque of Comus" was before the Earl of Bridgewater on the occasion of his becoming Lord President

of Wales. Performed at Ludlow Castle, the parts of the Lady and her two brothers were played by three children of the Earl, and the part of

"Thyrsis the Attendant Spirit" by Lawes himself.

 

A review in "The New York Times" published on 4 December 1921 provided the following critique of Rackham's "Comus":

 

Another old masterpiece in new garments is the Arthur Rackham illustrated edition of

John Milton's "Comus" ... [i]t is quite likely that Milton would have been paralyzed beyond

the use of words could he see it - but, then, as Milton was blind, that is not saying so

much for the book as it really deserves.

 

The First Edition of "Comus" (1921) was published with a suite of illustrations from Arthur Rackham including 24 colour plates and more than

30 monotone illustrations.

 

Cover for the Limited Edition of ''Comus'' (1921), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

To the left, we show a rare signed Limited Edition oversized copy of

Milton's "Comus" (which accompanied the standard First Edition) -

illustrated by Rackham and co-published by William Heinemann (London)

and Doubleday Page & Co (New York) in 1921. Only 550 copies of that

Edition were published (400 for sale in the United Kingdom market only

and 100 for the United States market only).

 

This copy retains the original gold-stamped vellum cover and is

associated with valise and opulent slip case, as issued.

 

 

On the right, we show the limitation

statement and Rackham's signature.

 

 Limitation Statement and Rackham's signature for number 109 of 550 of the Limited Edition of ''Comus'' (1921), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

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Title Page for ''Comus'' (1921), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

To the left, we show the illustrated Title Page

designed by Rackham.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the right is shown an example of the cover

used in the standard Trade Edition.

 Cover for the Trade Edition for ''Comus'' (1921), illustrated by Arthur Rackham
         

 

 

 

Our Greeting Cards and Fine Art Posters showing Arthur Rackham's

artwork for the First Edition of "Comus" (1921)

 

 

Greeting Card sample showing an Arthur Rackham illustration from ''Comus'' (1921)

 

 

For connoisseurs of Rackham's work, we have prepared sets of 24 Greeting Cards (approximately 7x5" on premium acid-free card stock)

displaying each of his colour images for "Comus" and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards appear.

 

 

 

 

Code: AR C CS(24)
 Price: US$120.00

 

    

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-on plates - in 'hommage' to the hand-crafted approach

typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is hand-finished and the

images are presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. The rear of each card carries information about

Arthur Rackham, this wonderful suite and the profiled illustration - we have left the interior of the cards blank so that you may write

your own personal message.

 

Should you wish to order a reproduction print of one or more of these images, we have provided some options below. Each of our

Fine Art Posters is prepared with archival quality papers and inks - and also accompanied by information about Arthur Rackham,

this suite and the profiled illustration.

 

To purchase, simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button and you will be taken through to our Shopping Cart secured through

PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any destination in the world are

accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth of purchases.

 

Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your contact on any matter through

ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

 

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these wonderful images from Arthur Rackham.

Fine Art Poster sample showing an Arthur Rackham illustration from ''Comus'' (1921)

 

An example of one of our Fine Art Posters

in a superb 12x18" format

      

 

The colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham for the

First Edition of "Comus" (1921)

 

 
Arthur Rackham - 'All amidst the Gardens fair, Of Hesperus, and his daughters three, That sing about the golden tree' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'And the, so perfect is their misery, Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, But boast themselves more comely than before' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'They com in making a riotous and unruly noise' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'And on the Tawny Sands and Shelves, Trip the pert Fairies and the dapper Elves' from ''Comus'' (1921)  

All amidst the Gardens fair

Of Hesperus, and his daughters three

That sing about the golden tree

And they, so perfect is their misery,

Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,

But boast themselves more comely than before

 

 

They com in making a riotous and

unruly noise

And on the Tawny Sands and Shelves

Trip the pert Fairies and the dapper Elves

  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 1 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 2 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 3 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 4 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'By dimpled Brook, and Fountain brim, The Wood-Nymphs, deckt with Daisies trim, Their merry wakes and pastimes keep' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'The Lady enters' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - '... the Stars, That nature hung in Heav'n, and fill'd their Lamps, With everlasting oil, to give due light, To the misled and lonely Traveller' from ''Comus'' (1921)

Arthur Rackham - 'Calling shapes, and beckning shadows dire' from ''Comus'' (1921)

  

By dimpled Brook, and Fountain brim,

The Wood-Nymphs, deckt with Daisies trim,

Their merry wakes and pastimes keep

 

 

The Lady enters

... the Stars

That nature hung in Heav'n, and fill'd their Lamps

With everlasting oil, to give due light

To the misled and lonely Traveller

 

 

Calling shapes, and beckning

shadows dire

  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 5 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x18'')

Code: AR C 6 (11x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 7 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 8 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'Sweet Echo' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'The flowry-kirtl'd Naiades' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'Enter the Two Brothers' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'Som say, no evil thing that walks by night ...' from ''Comus'' (1921)  
Sweet Echo The flowry-kirtl'd Naiades

 

 

Enter the Two Brothers

Som say, no evil thing that walks by night

In fog, or fire, by lake or moorish fen,

Blew meager Hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost

That breaks his magick chains at curfeu time;

No goblin, or swart faery of the mine,

Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity

 

 

  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 9 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x18'')

Code: AR C 10 (11x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (6x18'')

Code: AR C 11 (6x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 12 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'Som say, no evil thing that walks by night ...' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'Som say, no evil thing that walks by night ...' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'The huntress Dian' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'The wonted roar was up amidst the Woods, And fill'd the Air with barbarous dissonance' from ''Comus'' (1921)  

Som say, no evil thing that walks by night

In fog, or fire, by lake or moorish fen,

Blew meager Hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost

That breaks his magick chains at curfeu time;

No goblin, or swart faery of the mine,

Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity

 

 

Som say, no evil thing that walks by night

In fog, or fire, by lake or moorish fen,

Blew meager Hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost

That breaks his magick chains at curfeu time;

No goblin, or swart faery of the mine,

Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity

 

 

The huntress Dian

 

The wonted roar was up amidst the Woods,

And fill'd the Air with barbarous dissonance

 

 

  

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 13 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 14 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x18'')

Code: AR C 15 (11x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 16 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - '... as Daphne was, Root-bound, that fled Apollo' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'The Brothers rush in with Swords drawn' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'The water Nymphs, that in the bottom plaid, Held up their pearled wrists and took her in' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'Sabrina fair, Listen where thou art sitting' from ''Comus'' (1921)  

... as Daphne was,

Root-bound, that fled Apollo

 The Brothers rush in with Swords drawn

The water Nymphs, that in the bottom plaid,

Held up their pearled wrists and took her in

 

 

Sabrina fair

Listen where thou art sitting

  

Fine Art Poster (9x18'')

Code: AR C 17 (9x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 18 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 19 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 20 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'Fair Ligea' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'But all the Nymphs that nightly dance, Upon thy streams with wily glance' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'Sabrina rises, attended by water-Nymphs' from ''Comus'' (1921) Arthur Rackham - 'Iris there, with humid bow' from ''Comus'' (1921)  
Fair Ligea

But all the Nymphs that nightly dance

Upon thy streams with wily glance

 

 

Sabrina rises, attended

by Water-Nymphs

 Iris there, with humid bow  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 21 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 22 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (10x18'')

Code: AR C 23 (10x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR C 24 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
                       

 

 

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