Rackhams colour images for "Comus" (Cards) All 24 colour images on wonderfully hand-finished cards Start Price USD 120.00 Current Price USD 120.00 Time Left 23 days 8 hours 9 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, November 02, 2008 End Time Saturday, January 31, 2009 Location Buderim, QLD See more about 'Rackhams colour images for "Comus" (Cards)' Description    Arthur Rackham's colour illustrations for Comus (1921)   A set of 24 blank Greeting Cards showing the suite of colour illustrations for this very rare vintage book     The current offering is for a set of 24 blank Greeting Cards showing the entire suite of full-page colour illustrations produced by Rackham for his suite of illustrations to accompany Comus.   The Masque of Comus was a 17th Century moral tale borne from a collaboration between John Milton and Henry Lawes. 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.   Today, Rackham's illustrations remain just as captivating as they did nearly 90 years ago - they are gorgeous.   1st Edition copies of Comus - as illustrated by Rackham are rare and when they are offered on the international market, sales may occur for more than US$600.     The illustrations presented as tipped-in plates with this set of Greeting Cards     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   And they, so perfect is their misery, Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, But boast themselves more comely than before   And on the Tawny Sands and Shelves Trip the pert Fairies and the dapper Elves   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 Traveiler   Calling shapes, and beckning shadows dire   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 hurtfull power o're 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 hurtfull power o're 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 hurtfull power o're true virginity   The huntress Dian   The wonted roar was up amidst the Woods, And fill'd the Air with barbarous dissonance ... 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 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     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 Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.   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 Comus 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!