Springtide of Life

[RACKHAM, Arthur]. The Springtide of Life. Poems of Childhood by Algernon Charles Swinburne. With a Preface by Edmund Gosse. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. London: William Heinemann [1918]. 4to, x 134pp. White quarter-velum stamped in gilt with white boards pictorially stamped in gilt; t.e.g. Pictorial endpaper in green ink; 8 color plates with captioned tissue guards, and numerous b&w illustrations. Corner worn with upper front corner bumped, spine ends a bit rubbed, boards discolored, spine sunned, free endpapers discolored. Nonetheless, an internally clean copy with all the stunning color plates in fine, bright condition. Signed by the artist, Arthur Rackham.

First edition, limited issue, being one of 650 signed and numbered copies for the UK market out of a total of 765 copies. Celebrated English poet, Algernon Charles Swinburne’s delightful poems for children are wondrously captured in Rackham’s delicate b&w illustrations and evocative color plates. Edmund Gosse, who wrote the preface, said of Rackham’s work in this edition: “This volume will not merely be the best book of the present art-season, but a joy to all sensitive people for years and years to come.” (Hudson, p.108).