1881 Scarce First Edition - Gudrun and Other Medieval Epics Stories Illustrated

Author: John Gibb. Illustrated by various artists.
Title: Gudrun and Other Stories: From the Epics of the Middle Ages. 
Publisher: New York: Scribner and Welford, 1881.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches. 
Pages: 301 pages + publisher's catalogue.
Binding: Attractive and near fine, beautiful publisher’s original brown pictorial cloth binding, lavishly decorated in gilt and black with medieval motifs. The upper cover features gilt medallions depicting a warrior in profile and a romantic couple, while the spine is ornamented with a shield and floral elements framed in gold. The rear board is elegantly designed with matching black floral motifs. Bright gilt titles on the spine and front cover (hinges fine - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt. A splendid example of late 19th-century decorative cloth binding, remarkably well preserved with minimal shelf wear. Scarce.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light toning - as shown).
Illustrations: Illustrated with twenty engravings, including the dramatic frontispiece “The Story of Gudrun” and vivid scenes from Beowulf, The Death of Roland, and Walter and Hildegund. The engravings powerfully convey the chivalric spirit and tragic grandeur of the medieval legends retold within. Complete.

Estimate: (Scarce with no or few other copies available for sale worldwide).

The book: A handsomely bound and illustrated 1881 First edition of Gudrun and Other Stories: From the Epics of the Middle Ages, a collection of heroic tales retold by John Gibb. Drawing on the ancient poetic traditions of Germany, England, and France, Gibb presents prose versions of foundational medieval epics, including Gudrun, Beowulf, The Death of Roland, and Walter and Hildegund, with the aim of introducing younger readers to Europe’s earliest heroic literature in an accessible and engaging form.

The book opens with a Prefatory Note explaining the author’s intention to preserve the moral vigor and noble ideals of these epics while simplifying their structure for contemporary readers. The result is both a literary bridge to medieval myth and a reflection of 19th-century fascination with the heroic past.

This edition’s superb decorative binding with its intricate gilt and black design epitomizes the aesthetic sensibilities of Victorian craftsmanship and makes it a striking collector’s piece.

The author:John Gibb (1831–1909) was a Scottish writer, translator, and educator known for his adaptations of classical and medieval epics for a general readership. His works sought to bring the legends of early Europe to new audiences, often emphasizing moral and heroic themes aligned with the Victorian spirit of learning and faith.