The Tale of Lohengrin: Knight of the Swan After the Drama by Richard Wagner and Presented by Willy Pogany
by Wagner, Richard; Rolleston, T. W. (Translation)
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Rapid River, Michigan, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., 1913. First edition thus; from colophon at back: "The entire book, including auto-lithographs, is printed by off-set lithography by Vincent Brooks, Day and Sons Ltd. London, the four-colour reproductions are the work of The Dux Engraving Co. Ltd. Glasgow." No date; circa 1913. Oversize 8" x 11" folio design. Fine brown morocco pebbled leather boards w/elaborately tooled blind-stamped ornamentation and design, crisp gilt spine titles length of spine, light shelf wear; protected in clear sleeve. Spine richly displays complete titles in gilt w/stylized heart design at top, and swan at bottom. Thick deckled pages near fine. Bright gilded top edge. Detailed slate, green, and brown imagery at front, back endpapers. Bind fine, intact. Elaborate, profuse, symbolical and complexly illustrated edition by Willy Pogany. Eight deliciously, richly subdued four-color plates in blending watercolor-like presentation. Enchanting monochromatic, two and three-color designs throughout w/flourishing borders, accents, colors; also chiaroscuro-like black imagery among other varied methods. Although other artists have illustrated various editions, Willy Pogany captures the surreal nature of this tale. An attractive, near fine example of this rarity. The son of Parzival (Percival), Lohengrin is a knight of the Holy Grail sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden who can never ask his identity. His story, which first appears in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, is a version of the Knight of the Swan legend passed on in a variety of medieval tales. Wolfram's story was expanded in two later romances. Presented here is Richard Wagner's opera of Lohengrin based upon these legends. William Andrew ("Willy") Pogany, born Vilmos Andreas Pogany, was a prolific Hungarian illustrator. Pogany's best known works consist of illustrations of classic myths and legends done in the Art Nouveau style. The publication of Pogany's Lohengrin was the final act in his trilogy of masterworks focused on Wagner's Germanic tales, and one of the quintet that is considered his finest work. Pogany clearly approached the commission to illustrate Lohengrin as an opportunity to improve and extend techniques that he had developed through his preceding works: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Tannhäuser and Parsifal; four books that immortalized him as an illustrator. His commitment to ongoing innovation resulted in an incredible suite of illustrations, including color lithographs, monotone and marginal illustrations, and the delightful tipped-in color plates (produced with a four-color process) included in here. Themes of medieval chivalry, erotic love and moral tests are illustrated in a lavish fashion by Pogány with an outstanding use of iconography, form and color. A rare and beautiful book. Insured post.. First Edition. Full-Leather. Fine. Illus. by Pogany, Willy. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Book.
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Details
- Bookseller
- BiblioStax (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 020796
- Title
- The Tale of Lohengrin: Knight of the Swan After the Drama by Richard Wagner and Presented by Willy Pogany
- Author
- Wagner, Richard; Rolleston, T. W. (Translation)
- Illustrator
- Pogany, Willy
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Publisher
- George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd.
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1913
- Size
- 4to - over 9¾" - 12&
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
Terms of Sale
BiblioStax
Satisfaction is guaranteed. Refund will be negotiated and granted for sufficient reason.
About the Seller
BiblioStax
Biblio member since 2005
Rapid River, Michigan
About BiblioStax
We specialize in modern rarities and other hard to find materials. Items are accurately and fully described. Open communication and satisfaction is our goal.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Pebbled
- Pebbled cloth or leather describes the covering of a hardcover book with a decorative texture of repeated small raised bumps,...
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- Colophon
- The colophon contains information about a book's publisher, the typesetting, printer, and possibly even includes a printer's...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
- G
- Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (as defined by AB...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....