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"Irish Fairy Tales" (1920)

 

Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

 

 

"Irish Fairy Tales" (1920) was a collection of traditional tales compiled by James Stephens, as illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

 

Rackham's suite of illustrations providing a visual interpretation of the tales collected by Stephens show a genuine affinity with Celtic aesthetes

and artistic traditions. Those images are regarded as among Rackham's most accomplished in the decade and some are most noteworthy for

the complementary integration of elaborate borders within the image.

 

For this commission, Rackham received an advance from MacMillan and Company (London) of £1,000, contributing to the most profitable year

of his artistic career (his income in 1920 reached a career peak of £6,409 [net]).

 

In "The Review" (Vol. 3: 1920), Pearson commented on Stephens' text and Rackham's illustrations thus:

 

Children may enjoy it, but like Arthur Rackham's exquisite illustrations, it will be fully appreciated

only by more sophisticated readers.

 

The critique published in "The Independent" (25 December, 1920) said as follows:

 

James Stephens' writing has the gift of everlasting youth. Arthur Rackham's drawing have

inherent magic. Wherefore the two are fortunately met in a new book, primarily for children, but

also full of appeal to grown-ups with a sense of humor.

 

 

Cover for ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

On the left, we show a rare 1st Edition example of "Irish Fairy Tales" (1920) that retains the original

gold-stamped green cloth cover - the binding used by Macmillan and Company (London).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the right, we show the decorated Title Page

designed by Arthur Rackham.

 Title Page for ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920), illustrated by Arthur Rackham

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The First Edition of "Irish Fairy Tales" (1920) was published with a suite of illustrations from Arthur Rackham including 16 colour plates and more than 20 monotone illustrations.

 

 

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

artwork for the First Edition of "Irish Fairy Tales" (1920)

 

 

Greeting Card sample showing an Arthur Rackham illustration from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)

 

 

For connoisseurs of Rackham's work, we have prepared sets of 16 Greeting Cards (approximately 7x5" on premium acid-free card stock)

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

 

 

 

 

Code: AR IFT CS(16)
 Price: US$80.00

 

    

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 ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)

 

An example of one of our Fine Art Posters

in a superb 11x14" format

      

 

The colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham for the

First Edition of "Irish Fairy Tales" (1920)

 

 
Arthur Rackham - 'Wild and shy and monstrous creatures ranged in her plains and forests' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'My life became a ceaseless scurry and wound and escape, a burden and anguish of watchfulness' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'He might think, as he stared on a staring horse, ''a boy cannot wag his tail to keep the flies off''' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'How he strained and panted to catch on that pursuing person and pursue her and get his own switch into action' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)  

The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill

Wild and shy and monstrous creatures

ranged in her plains and forests

 

 

The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill

My life became a ceaseless scurry and

wound and escape, a burden and

anguish of watchfulness

 

 

The Boyhood of Fionn

He might think, as he stared on a

staring horse, " a boy cannot wag his

tail to keep the flies off"

 

 

The Boyhood of Fionn

How he strained and panted to catch

on that pursuing person and pursue

her and get his own switch into action

 

 

  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

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

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x14'')

Code: AR IFT 2 (11x14)
Price: US$55.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 3 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x14'')

Code: AR IFT 4 (11x14)
Price: US$55.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'A man who did not like dogs. In fact, he hated them. When he saw one he used to go black in the face, and he threw rocks at it until it got out of sight' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'Then they went hand in hand in the country that smells of apple-blossom and honey' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'The door fo Fionn's chamber opened gently and a young woman came into the room' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)

Arthur Rackham - 'She looked with angry woe at the straining and snarling horde below' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)

  

The Birth of Bran

A man who did not like dogs. In fact, he

hated them. When he saw one he used

to go black in the face, and he threw

rocks at it until it got out of sight

 

 

The Birth of Bran

Then they went hand in hand in the

country that smells of apple-blossom

and honey

Oisín's Mother

The door of Fionn's chamber opened

gently and a young woman came into

the room

The Wooing of Becfola

She looked with angry woe at the

straining and snarling horde below

  

Fine Art Poster (11x14'')

Code: AR IFT 5 (11x14)
Price: US$55.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 6 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 7 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

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

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'The banqueting hall was in tumult' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'The thumping of his bog boots grew as continuous as the pattering of hailstones on a roof, and the wind of his passage blew trees down' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - '''This one if fat,'' said Cuillen, and she rolled a bulky Fenian along like a wheel' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'They stood outside filled with savery and terror' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)  

The Little Brawl at Allen

The banqueting hall was in tumult

The Carl of the Drab Coat

The thumping of his bog boots grew as

continuous as the pattering of hailstones

on a roof, and the wind of his passage

blew trees down

 

 

The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran

"This one is fat," said Cuillen, and she

rolled a bulky Fenian along

like a wheel

The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran

They stood outside, filled with

savagery and terror

  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

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

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

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

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 11 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x14'')

Code: AR IFT 12 (11x14)
Price: US$55.00

 

 

 

  
Arthur Rackham - 'In a forked glen into which he slipped at night-fall he was surrounded by giant toads' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'The waves of all the worlds seemed to whirl past them in one huge green cataract' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'They offered a cow for each leg of her cow, but she would not accept that offer unless Fachna went bail for the payment' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920) Arthur Rackham - 'The Hag of the Mill was a bony, thin pole of a hag with odd feet' from ''Irish Fairy Tales'' (1920)  

Becuma of the White Skin

In a forked glen into which he slipped

at night-fall he was surrounded by

giant toads

Becuma of the White Skin

The waves of all the worlds seemed to

whirl past them in one huge green

cataract

 

 

Mongan's Frenzy

They offered a cow for each leg of her

cow, but she would not accept that

offer unless Fiachna went bail for the

payment

 

 

Mongan's Frenzy

The Hag of the Mill was a bony, thin

pole of a hag with odd feet

 

 

  

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 13 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (11x14'')

Code: AR IFT 14 (11x14)
Price: US$55.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 15 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

Fine Art Poster (12x18'')

Code: AR IFT 16 (12x18)
Price: US$60.00

 

 

 

  
                       

 

 

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