Perrault, Ch[arles]; Rackham, Arthur (Illustrator)

Cendrillon [Cinderella]

Paris: Libraire Hachette [printed in England by Hudson and Kearns, Ltd.], 1919. Rackham, Arthur. First and Limited Edition. Hardcover. First French deluxe edition with Rackham illustrations, quarto size, 110 pp., limited to 500 copies, signed by Arthur Rackham, all text in French. Very good +. Item #26041503

British illustrator Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) is credited with renewing interest in book illustration at a vital moment of advances in printing technology. The subtle colours and thin lines were unlike anything that had come before, breathing new life into the whole of children's book illustration. Part of Rackham's genius was his ability to convey both menace in his grotesque, humanoid trees and trolls, as well as delicate and almost ethereal beauty in his fairies, princesses and heroines.

This one of Rackham's "silhouette" books, with the illustrations comprised entirely of silhouettes other than the frontispiece, which is a colour plate. There are three double-page silhouette illustrations in colour, one single-page illustration in colour, thirteen full-page silhouette illustrations in black only, and thirty-six in-text silhouettes - even the endpapers are silhouettes. Note that the deluxe version includes one colour plate not included in the trade editions.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in vellum style with white paper over boards, gilt lettering and vignette (a silhouette of Cinderally seated, holding her broom) on the front board and spine (the decoration here being two mice with intertwined tails), top edge gilt, the fore-and bottom edges uncut, silhouette endpapers of white on green, tipped-in limitation page with Rackham's signature, this copy no. 112 of the 500 (there were also 850 copies in English), tissue-guarded frontis a tipped-in full-colour plate of Cinderella in her rags with colour silhouette horizontal borders, title page also with colour silhouette borders (both of these borders in black, red and green), the single-page silhouette in colour (black, orange and green) opens the story and the three double-page silhouettes in colour (black, red, and green) are of Cinderalla climbing into her carriage to attend the ball, running from the Prince with her slipper falling off, and the Prince about to place the slipper on her foot while she sits, in her rags, by the fire; binding quarto size (11 1/2" by 9"), pagination: [1-9] 10-110.

___CONDITION: Better than very good, the boards mostly clean other than light dustiness and a small spot of rubbing at the bottom of the front board, the gilt bright on both the front and spine, straight corners with minimal rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; very light wear to the head and tail of the spine,some light offsetting throughout from the inks used and stronger offersetting to the title page from the tissue guard; even with its few faults, still a lovely example.

___CITATIONS: Latimore and Haskell, pp. 49-50 ; Riall, pp. 134-135.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

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Price: $1,200.00