Ring of the Nibelung - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham, 1910, Stockholm

Niebelungens Ring (The Ring of the Nibelung) by Richard Wagner, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Published by P.A. Norstedt & Sons, Stockholm, 1910–1911. The Swedish first editions, in four volumes, each limited to 500 numbered copies. In the Swedish language.

Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was the pre-eminent illustrator of the Edwardian golden age of book illustration. His watercolours for the Ring cycle — among the most celebrated of his career — appeared simultaneously in English and Swedish editions; these Swedish volumes, published by the distinguished Stockholm house of Norstedt, are considerably scarcer than their English counterparts and rarely appear as a complete set.

Volume 1 — RHENGULDET (The Rhinegold), 1910. No. 466/500.
Original beige gilt-blocked cloth, pp. 78, with 17 tissue-guarded tipped-in colour plates including frontispiece. Covers exceptionally clean with one tiny mark to the backstrip; slight crease at the spine tips; binding firm and square, corners unbumped; upper cover very slightly bowing at the fore-edge. Two previous owner names in ink to the top margin of the front free endpaper. Thick paper stock, entirely free from foxing or spotting; intermittent offsetting to the text from the plate outlines — remarkably, none from the tissue-guards. Exceptional condition; evidently cherished since publication.

Volume 2 — VALKYRJAN (The Valkyrie), 1910. No. 442/500.
Original beige gilt-blocked cloth, pp. 89, with 17 tissue-guarded tipped-in colour plates including frontispiece. Covers exceptionally clean; slight crease at the spine tips; binding firm and square; lower corners slightly bumped; upper cover very slightly bowing at the fore-edge. A small tear to the cloth at the backstrip and two smaller abrasions — titles unaffected but noticeable. Two previous owner names in ink to the front free endpaper. Free from foxing; intermittent offsetting from plate outlines; none from tissue-guards. Tiny mark to the dedication page. Lovely clean condition.

Volume 3 — SIGFRID, 1911. No. 247/500.
Original white gilt-blocked cloth with marbled edges, pp. 108, with 15 tissue-guarded tipped-in colour plates including frontispiece. The marbling to the block edges has faded and is now only faintly discernible. Covers exceptionally clean with one or two microscopic blemishes; slight crease at the spine tips; binding firm and square; lower corners slightly bumped. Two previous owner names in ink to the front free endpaper. Free from foxing; intermittent offsetting from plate outlines; none from tissue-guards. Superb condition.

Volume 4 — RAGNARÖK (Twilight of the Gods), 1911. No. 170/500.
Original white gilt-blocked cloth with marbled edges, pp. 92, with 15 tissue-guarded tipped-in colour plates including frontispiece. The marbling to the block edges has faded and is now only faintly discernible. Covers exceptionally clean; slight crease at the spine tips; binding firm and square; lower corners slightly bumped; upper cover very slightly bowing at the fore-edge. Two previous owner names in ink to the front free endpaper. Free from foxing; intermittent offsetting from plate outlines; none from tissue-guards. Tiny mark to the dedication page. Superb, clean condition.

A wonderful set of these beautiful and scarce books.