1908 First Edition Illustrated by Rackham - Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream
Author: William Shakespeare. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Title: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Publisher: London, William Heinemann; New York, Doubleday, Page & Co., 1908. First Edition illustrated by Rackham.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 10 x 7.5 inches.
Pages: 134 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good publisher’s original cream cloth binding, gilt-stamped titles and design to spine and upper board, featuring a Rackham illustration of a tree under the moon. (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A bright and well-preserved copy.
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown, one illustration inner bottom corner lightly creased - as shown). Tissue-guarded frontispiece and mounted color plates throughout, all present.
Illustrations: Profusely illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 40 tipped-in color plates and numerous full-page and vignette line drawings integrated into the text. All plates are mounted on heavy paper with captioned tissue guards. The illustrations are richly atmospheric, with ethereal faeries, shadowy forests, and characterful detail capturing the spirit of Shakespeare’s most whimsical comedy.
Estimate: (USD 600–800).
The book: This 1908 First Rackham illustratd edition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, lavishly illustrated by Arthur Rackham, is one of the defining illustrated editions of Shakespeare’s beloved play. Rackham’s masterful images bring the enchanted woods, the mischievous Puck, and the fairy court vividly to life, immersing the reader in the dreamlike quality of the tale. His illustrations reflect both Art Nouveau elegance and a darker, folkloric mystery, marking this volume as a landmark of Edwardian book illustration. This edition is a cornerstone for collectors of both Shakespeare and Golden Age illustration.
The author: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), the preeminent playwright and poet of the English language, wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream circa 1595–96. The play is an enduring comedy of love, illusion, and magic, noted for its layered narrative and poetic wit. It remains one of the most frequently performed and adapted of Shakespeare’s works.
The illustrator: Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was among the most celebrated British illustrators of the Golden Age. Renowned for his moody palettes, fantastical figures, and intricate line work, Rackham transformed illustrated books into art objects. His work on A Midsummer Night’s Dream is often considered one of his greatest achievements, showcasing the full breadth of his imagination—from the delicate to the uncanny.