Rackhams color images for "Irish Fairy Tales" (cards) All 16 color images on wonderfully hand-finished cards Start Price USD 80.00 Current Price USD 80.00 Time Left 25 days 11 hours 8 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 04, 2008 End Time Monday, February 02, 2009 Location Buderim, QLD See more about 'Rackhams color images for "Irish Fairy Tales" (cards)' Description    Irish Fairy Tales (James Stephens) Illustrated by Arthur Rackham in 1920   A set of 16 blank Greeting Cards showing the suite of color illustrations for this rare vintage book     The current offering is for a set of 16 blank Greeting Cards showing each of the color illustrations prepared by Rackham for the 1st Edition of his interpretation of James Stephens' Irish Fairy Tales.   Irish Fairy Tales is a wonderful example of the work of the Irish poet and storyteller, James Stephens. It is a book that is, unsurprisingly, laced with ancient Gaelic themes. To his credit, Rackham interprets Stephens' work in superb style with a wonderfully sympathetic approach to the Gaelic tales - and the outcome is a suite of images that is, arguably, unlike any other produced by Rackham.   1st Edition copies of Irish Fairy Tales - as illustrated by Rackham - are rare and highly collectable.     The illustrations presented as tipped-in plates with this set of Greeting Cards   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     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 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 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   These wonderful images are presented on the Greeting Cards as tipped-in plates - in homage to the wonderfully hand-crafted approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century.   Using pristine 1st Edition plates held in the Collection as a reference, the images are captured and reproduced through a technique that ensures the colour, line and form of the illustrations originally prepared by Rackham are shown to dazzling effect (it is the same technique utilised for the larger reproduction prints we offer).   Hand-finishing is used to replicate the visual appearance of a tipped-in plate and the images are presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope.         On the right, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards are presented - using an image appearing in the 1st Edition suite of illustrations by Arthur Rackham for Irish Fairy Tales. The art of Arthur Rackham Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) is considered among one of the leading artists contributing to what has been termed the Golden Age of Fantasy Illustration. Among his contemporaries - on either side of the Atlantic - were artists including Kay Nielsen, Edmund Dulac, Warwick Goble, Willy Pogány, Maxfield Parrish, Harry Clarke and Virginia Sterrett (in Sterret's case, she has been termed 'the female Kay Nielsen').   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 trolls ugly enough to repluse, but with sufficient good nature not to frighten.     Spirit of the Ages   We expect that, like us, you will be captivated by the beauty, power and symbolism of these objects. Each vintage and antique item we offer is drawn from our Collection of objects d'art from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, the Russian Orthodox tradition and the Gothic Revival, fin de siecle, Pre-Raphælite, Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. When we offer reproduction images, they are also based on artwork held in our Collection.                 The people behind the collection Rosemary and Douglas Colston     For all our eBay sales, we accept PayPal only - the fast, easy, and secure way to pay online.   We post through Australia Post and provide an airmail service for international sales as standard - and the purchaser of this wonderful set of cards showing illustrations from Rackham's contributions to Irish Fairy Tales will receive that service free of charge, regardless of domestic or international destination.   Payment is required within seven (7) days of the close of the Auction and our expectation is that shipping will occur within 48 hour of cleared payment (Australia Post advises that delivery to international destinations may be expected within 7-10 working days of despatch).   Every effort has been taken to describe the items accurately and thus, the items are sold as described. Currently, we do not accept returns.   You are also invited to consider our other items , or visit our eBay store online: .   Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!