The Springtide of Life: Poems of Childhood Illustrated by Arthur Rackham [First Edition]

Philadelphia - London: J. B. Lippincott Co. - William Heinemann, 1918. Stated at title page: MCMXVIII (1918); and verso title page: "Printed in Great Britain." Large 7 3/4" x 10" gift book design. Sharp dark green full cloth boards, stylized cover and spine titles, light shelf, corner wear. Pages generally near fine, sharp; no writing Apprx. 1/2" discoloration to top edge throughout; mostly noticeable to plates in white surrounding borders. Pictorial endpapers features light green Rackham imagery of babe below rose vine; moderate fox inside back cover. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Beautifully illustrated with eight tipped-in color plates. Also, various black-and-white vignettes, ornamentation by Arthur Rackham throughout. Each with captioned tissue guards. Additionally features fifty-two drawings by Rackham in black and white. Also, a preface by Edmund Gosse describing the match of Swinburne's poetry with Rackham's designs. Attractive near very good example. Rare original beige pictorial wrapper, moderate edge wear, chip, rub, discoloration; 3.00 net at spine, protected in new clear sleeve. Features stylized red and green cover and spine titles with charming vignette of little one among butterflies. Back panel features summary review adverts for A. R. gift editions, The Allies' Fairy Book by the New York Times, and A Christmas Carol by the Boston Transcript. Near very good first edition in same wrapper. Algeron Charles Swinburne is noted as founder and promoter of English literary symbolism, his many works of literature and poetry, and his brilliant essay on William Blake, without which Blake would never have become an ideal for a whole school of poets and writers. From wrapper: "Swinburne frequently expressed his intention to gather in one volume his poems of child life. He died without having found occasion to do this. Edmund Gosse has carried out the poet's plan, and Arthur Rackham, whose dlecate and romantic fancy is in sensitvie harmony with Swinburne's, and who understands no less than he did, how 'the face and the voice of a child are assurance of heaven,' has given exquisite interpretation to these flowers of the poet's imagination. Overs of the beautiful in poetry will find this volume a rare addition to their treasures." Printed at The Complete Press, West Norwood, London. 133 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Good/Good. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.