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Free Library of Philadelphia collection of Arthur Rackham

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Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]Philadelphia, PA 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Arthur Rackham was born September 19, 1867 in London. He was considered an extremely versatile artist, providing illustrations for more than sixty-five works from authors as diverse as William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Charles Dickens, and Edgar Allen Poe.

His father, Alfred Rackham, was an admiralty marshal at the Ecclesiastical and Admiralty Courts. He worked in government all of his life and impressed on his children the importance of financial security. Arthur's mother, Annie, was from a family of lace manufacturers. Arthur was the fourth of twelve children and one of the few to survive to adulthood. As a teenager he was sickly and his parents decided to send him on a sea voyage to Australia as a remedy. During this trip he kept a detailed notebook and painted two dozen landscape watercolors. This was the first time he was able to concentrate on his artwork without pressure from school or his younger siblings.

On his return from Australia, at sixteen, he took a job as a clerk at the Westminster Fire Office as a means of paying for art classes and his share of the Rackham household. At this time he enrolled himself in night classes at the Lambeth School of Art. While working as a clerk he submitted drawings to different magazines. He was first published in Scraps and Illustrated Bits . In 1892 he quit his job at the insurance office and began working full-time for the Pall Mall Budget as a staff illustrator. While working at the Pall Mall Budget he covered the music hall, light opera, and an interesting Votes for Women meeting where he illustrated a fight that had broken out between the two sides. He then quickly moved to the Westminster Budget covering the same kind of events. Arthur Rackham commented that this was the worst period of his life where he often did work he did not like. It was also apparent to him that the "camera was largely going to supplant the artist in illustrated journalism" and his "prospects were not encouraging."

He received his first commission to illustrate a book in 1893 with a travelogue of the United States and Canada titled To the Other Side . He quickly received other commissions and illustrated his first children's book in 1897, The Zankwank and the Bletherwitch by S. J. Adair Fitzgerald. From this time until 1900 he completed illustrations for Tales from Shakespeare (1899), Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (1900), and Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (1900). His illustrations for Fairy Tales were exhibited at the Royal Watercolour Society in 1902 to critical acclaim. He published his most successful books over the next few years. These included Rip Van Winkle (1905), Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1907). For each of these publications his illustrations were exhibited before they were published, helping the sales of the books. He found success illustrating expensively produced gift books up until the First World War.

After the war, demand for expensive books declined greatly and in 1920 he expanded into the American market. He received almost three thousand pounds from one exhibition in New York. He also published three books solely for the American market. From 1922 to 1925, he also completed thirty drawings for the Colgate Company advertising Cashmere Bouquet Soap.

By the 1930s he was still producing some gift books but was completing numerous other works. Some of these include The Night Before Christmas (1931), Fairy Tales by Hans Anderson (1932), The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book (1933), and Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1935). In the late 1930s he was diagnosed with cancer and his health deteriorated rapidly. His last work was The Wind in the Willows , which was published posthumously in 1940. He died on September 6, 1939.

Bibliography

"Arousing Delight: Arthur Rackham, Artist and Illustrator," Clarke Historical Library, accessed December 13, 2011, http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/information_and_exhibits/arousing_delight/arousing_delight_index.html.

Children's Literature Review , vol. 57.

Hamilton, James. Arthur Rackham . New York: Arcade Publishing, 1990.

This collection contains correspondence, original artwork, and ephemera by or relating to the illustrator Arthur Rackham. Published volumes have been cataloged separately and are searchable via the main Free Library catalog. The collection is divided into four parts, Correspondence, Artwork, Ephemera, and Post-lifetime ephemera. The material dates from 1831 to 1996, but the bulk of the material is from 1890 to 1938. The collection includes examples of his work from his first publication, To the Other Side , until the end of his career.

The majority of the correspondence is written by Arthur Rackham, with one letter written by his wife Edyth. Artwork and ephemera make up the bulk of the collection. The artwork consists of original artwork for the many works he illustrated. There is a large amount of material from To the Other Side and a few items from his other more famous works including Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens , The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm , and The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book . The ephemera series is mostly printed greeting cards and some examples of his advertisements for the Cashmere Bouquet Soap campaign. The post-lifetime ephemera series includes auction catalogs and exhibition announcements.

This collection is arranged into four series: I. Correspondence; II. Artwork; III. Ephemera; IV. Post-lifetime ephemera. Series I. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically. Series II-IV are arranged chronologically, with undated materials placed at the end of the series.

The majority of this collection was purchased by the Free Library from dealers, with some materials given to the Free Library by various donors.

This finding aid was entered into AT by Garrett Boos from legacy data compiled by the Rare Book Department. Each item was examined and description enhanced and standardized where necessary.

Publisher
Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Garrett Boos
Finding Aid Date
March 2012 (updated March 2021)
Sponsor
The creation of the electronic guide for this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.

Collection Inventory

Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Barnes. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 4 pages, 1930 January 11.
Call Number RBD RA ALS B261
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Barratt, with a sketch. 54a Parkhill Road, Haverstock Hill, London N.W., 3 pages, 1902 December 30.
Call Number RBD RA ALS B273
General note

Self-portrait sketched at end.

Autograph letter signed, to Mr. N. Carroll. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 4 pages, 1931 July 26.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C236
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Mr. N. Carroll. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 10 pages, 1931 September 14.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C236b
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Miss Chadwick. The Hotel, Thurlestone N. Kingsbridge, S. Devon, 6 pages, 1909 September 8.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C345
General note

Identification of recipient is tentative.

Autograph letter signed, to Miss Chadwick. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 2 pages, 1909 September 30.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C345b
Autograph letter signed, to Miss Chadwick. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 1 page, 1909 October 10.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C345c
Autograph letter signed, to Miss Cowan, with a sketch. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 2 pages, 1907 January 21.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C838
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Crowninshield. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 4 pages, 1910 September 21.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C886e
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Crowninshield. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 2 pages, 1912 November 9.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C886
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Crowninshield. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 1 page, 1913 January 1.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C886b
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Crowninshield. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 8 pages, 1913 February 24.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C886c
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Crowninshield. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 7 pages, 1913 April 15.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C886d
Autograph letter signed, to Mrs. Crowninshield. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 4 pages, 1910 September 21.
Call Number RBD RA ALS C886r
Autograph letter signed, to Major Drury, illustrated with diagrams. 3 Primrose Hill, Studios, Fitzroy Road, London N.W., 4 pages, 1904 February 26.
Call Number RBD RA ALS D845
Autograph letter signed, to Frank Emanuel. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hempstead, London N.W., 1 page, 1920 April 9.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Em11
General note

With pencil sketches on verso, probably not by Rackham.

Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Farjeon. 16 Chalcot Gardens, London N.W., 2 pages, 1918 October 28.
Call Number RBD RA ALS F228
Autograph letter signed, to possibly Mr. Fisher. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1931 May 15.
Call Number RBD RA ALS F531
Autograph letter signed, to George Routledge & Son. 3 Primrose Hill, Studios, Fitzroy Road, London N.W., 2 pages, 1904 July 5.
Call Number RBD RA ALS G293
Autograph letter signed, to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1938 May 27.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241b
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1938 July 19.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241c
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1938 July 25.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241d
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter (fragment), to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1938 July 30.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241e
Autograph letter signed, to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 4 pages, 1938 October 3.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241f
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1938 October 27.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241g
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Frank P. Harris. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, circa 1938.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241h
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to Miss Catharine Jones. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, England, 3 pages with envelope, 1935 April 20.
Call Number RBD RA ALS J712
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Kadlec. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, England, 1 page, 1933 March 14.
Call Number RBD RA ALS K115
Autograph letter signed, to Frederick Mason. Siltegate, Limpsfield, 2 pages with envelope, 1933 December 28.
Call Number RBD RA ALS M381
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. R. D. McIntosh. Houghton House, Houghton, Arundel, England, 4 pages, 1926 June 6.
Call Number RBD RA ALS M189
Autograph letter signed, to Alexander McKay. 6 Primrose Hill Studios, London, 3 pages, 1928 December 16.
Call Number RBD RA ALS M192
Autograph note signed, to Lewis Melville. Hampstead, London N.W., 1 card, 1911 April 1.
Call Number RBD RA ALS M497
Autograph letter signed, to Bernard Osborne. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 1 page, 1934 May 24.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Os1
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Parker. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 1 page, 1914 December 30.
Call Number RBD RA ALS P223
Autograph letter signed, to Mrs. Edward J. Pearson. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages with envelope, 1932 January 10.
Call Number RBD RA ALS P317
Autograph letter signed, to L. Pyke. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 1 page, 1908 May 7.
Call Number RBD RA ALS P989
Autograph letter signed, from Edyth Starkie Rackham to Mabel Henrietta Spielmann. The Hotel, Thurlestone, Nr. King's Bridge, Devon S., 1 page, circa 1909.
Call Number RBD RA ALS/C Sp44
Autograph letter signed, to W. E. Redway. Stilegate Limpsfield, Surrey, England, 2 pages with envelope, 1831 December 1.
Call Number RBD RA Als Re22
Autograph letter signed, to Sangorski & Sutcliffe. 16 Chalcot Gardens, London N.W., 2 pages, 1918 May 26.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Sa58
Autograph letter signed, to Mabel Henrietta Spielmann, with a diagram. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London, 4 pages, 1909 February.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Sp44
Autograph letter signed, to Mabel Henrietta Spielmann. 16 Chalcot Gardens, S. Hampstead, London, 1 page, 1909 February.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Sp44b
Autograph letter signed, to Mabel Henrietta Spielmann. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 2 pages, 1909 April 29.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Sp44c
Autograph letter signed, to Mabel Henrietta Spielmann. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 3 pages, 1913 March 4.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Sp44d
Autograph letter signed, to The Studio Ltd, publisher of the Book of Kells. Houghton House, Houghton, Arundel, Sussex, 2 pages , 1926 October 26.
Call Number RBD RA ALS St94
General note

Two pages of receipts and notes, related to letter, laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to an unidentified recipient. 16 Chalcot Gardens, London N.W., 2 pages, 1919 January 6.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Z999
Autograph letter signed, to an unidentified recipient. Houghton House, Houghton, Arundel, Sussex, 2 pages, 1922 October 6.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Z999b
General note

Transcription laid in.

Autograph letter signed, to an unidentified recipient. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 2 pages, 1938 May 3.
Call Number RBD RA ALS H241
General note

Transcription laid in. Recipient is possibly Frank P. Harris.

Autograph letter signed (fragment), to an unidentified recipient. 2 pages, undated.
Call Number RBD RA ALS Z999c
Autograph letter signed, to Marie Adele Von Blon, with a sketch. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 9 pages with envelope, 1936 July 20.
Call Number RBD RA ALS V891
General note

Sketch is a signed self-portrait.

Autograph letter signed, to M. F. Vorwald. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 4 pages with envelope, 1936 December 22.
Call Number RBD RA ALS V919
General note

Discusses depicting snow in Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens in postscript. Folder also contains correspondence from Macmillan & Co. Ltd. to Mrs. M. F. Vorwald, three pages with envelope.

Autograph letter signed, to Henry Weather. 16 Chalcot Gardens, South Hampstead, London N.W., 1 page, 1914 December 9.
Call Number RBD RA ALS W378
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Wilson. 6 Primrose Hill Studios, London N.W., 1 page, 1928 July 3.
Call Number RBD RA ALS W691
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Wilson. Stilegate Limpsfield Surrey, 2 pages, 1932 March 13.
Call Number RBD RA ALS W691b
Autograph letter signed, to Mr. Wilson. Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey, 4 pages, 1933 February 16.
Call Number RBD RA ALS W691c
Autograph letter signed, to C. C. Wood. Stilegate Limpsfield Surrey, 3 pages, 1932 October 2.
Call Number RBD RA ALS W85
General note

Giving detailed comments on proofs of his Andersen's Fairy Tales .

"Driving the geese," 1 painting, 1890.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL1
General note

Watercolor signed "Arthur Rackham 1890." Title supplied by dealer. Presumed to be unpublished.

Physical Description

27 x 39 cm.

"Bend in the Semois," original watercolor for a drawing published in the Pall Mall Budget , 1 painting , 1891.
Call Number RBD RA ART M1
General note

AR 1891--Recto. In artist's hand on back of board: "A Bend in the Semois. Sketch for black & white drawing in Pall Mall Budget, 16 July 1891."

Physical Description

26 x 19 cm.

"Dignity," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS5
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "AR"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "Dignity."

Physical Description

28 x 20 cm.

"Down-town station of the elevated railway," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS4
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "A Down-town station of the elevated railway." Inscribed in blue in side margin of drawing: "Elevated Railway Station."

Physical Description

21 x 26 cm.

"Height 296 feet," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS7
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "Height--296 feet." Inscribed in blue in side margin of drawing: "Stony Creek bridge."

Physical Description

26 x 37 cm.

"Eagle Gate, Salt Lake City," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS3
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "The Eagle Gate, Salt Lake City." Inscribed in blue below drawing: "The Eagle Gate, Salt Lake City."

Physical Description

17 x 22 cm.

"In Salt Lake City," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS1
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "In Salt Lake City." Below illustration in book: "From a Photograph by the Jackson Company, Denver." Inscribed in blue below drawing: "Salt Lake City."

Physical Description

19 x 30 cm.

"Miners at home," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS8
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "Miners at home." Below illustration in book: "From a Photograph by the Jackson Company, Denver." Inscribed in blue above drawing: "Miners at home."

Physical Description

23 x 30 cm.

"Pike's Peak," unpublished drawing for To the Other Side , 1 drawing .
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS9
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. Drawing done for To the Other Side , published by George Philip & Son, 1893, but not included in finished book. Inscribed in blue below drawing: "Pike's Peak." Two captions included in drawing: "The Summit, Pike's Peak" and "Pike's Peak carriage road."

Physical Description

36 x 27 cm.

"'Pullman' sleeper,'" 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS6
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "'Pullman' sleeper.'" Inscribed in blue below drawing: "Sleeping car."

Physical Description

27 x 20 cm.

"Royal Gorge," unpublished drawing for To the Other Side , 1 drawing .
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS10
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. Drawing done for To the Other Side , published by George Philip & Son, 1893, but not included in finished book. Inscribed in blue in side margin of drawing: "The Royal Gorge."

Physical Description

27 x 20 cm.

"Sentinel Rock, Yosemite," 1 drawing.
Call Number RBD RA ART TOS2
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. To the Other Side originally published by George Philip & Son, 1893. Caption in book: "The Sentinel Rock, Yosemite." Inscribed in blue in side margin of drawing: "Sentinel Rock, Yosemite."

Physical Description

27 x 21 cm.

"And Monsieur, leaning on his spade, and looking into her bright face with his kindly eyes, says, 'Yes, mademoiselle,--perhaps,'" from The Money-Spinner , 1 pen and ink and wash drawing , circa 1896.
Call Number RBD RA ART L2
General note

Pen and ink wash drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. Inscription in Rackham's hand on accompanying note: "The Schoolgirl. 'And Monsieur, leaning on his spade, and looking into her bright face with his kindly eyes, says, 'Yes, Mademoiselle,--perhaps.'" Caption in book omits "The Schoolgirl." The Money-Spinner originally published by Smith, Elder, & Co., 1896.

Physical Description

30 x 24 cm.

"My Lord is young with George IV. He loses a fortune at play," from The Money-Spinner , 1 pen and ink and wash drawing , circa 1896.
Call Number RBD RA ART L1
General note

Pen and ink wash drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. Caption in Rackham's hand on accompanying note: "My Lord is young with George IV. He loses a fortune at play." Same caption in book. The Money-Spinner originally published by Smith, Elder, & Co., 1896.

Physical Description

31 x 24 cm.

"Make much of your steed, Robert Shurland! Make much of your steed!," from "The Grey Dolphin" in The Ingoldsby Legends , 1 drawing , 1898.
Call Number RBD RA ART L4
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham 98." Caption in Rackham's hand on accompanying note: "Make much of your steed, Robert Shurland! Make much of your steed!" The Ingoldsby Legends originally published by J.M. Dent & Co., 1898; published later by J.M. Dent & Co., 1907. This illustration printed in color in earlier edition, and in black and white in later edition.

Physical Description

29 x 22 cm.

"Monks and the nuns in the dead of the night tumble, all of them, out of their beds in affright," from "The Ingoldsby penance" in The Ingoldsby Legends , 1 painting , 1898.
Call Number RBD RA ART M4
General note

Tempera painting signed "Arthur Rackham"; undated. Published as black and white illustration by J.M. Dent & Co., 1900, with date of "98" on illustration. Published as color illustration by J.M. Dent & Co. in 1907.

Physical Description

23 x 13 cm.

"Then there was a pretty to-do Heads flew one way--arms and legs another; round went Tickletoby," from "The Grey Dolphin" in The Ingoldsby Legends , 1 drawing , 1898.
Call Number RBD RA ART L3
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham 98." Caption in Rackham's hand on accompanying note: "Then there was a pretty to-do. Heads flew one way--arms and legs another; round went Tickletoby." Same as caption in book. The Ingoldsby Legends originally published by J.M. Dent & Co., 1898; published later by J.M. Dent & Co., 1907. This illustration appears in slightly different form in the later edition.

Physical Description

30 x 22 cm.

Preliminary sketch for "Wandering about and boo-hooing," from "Babes in the wood" in The Ingoldsby Legends , 1 drawing , circa 1898.
Call Number RBD RA ART S1
General note

Pencil sketch signed "AR." The Ingoldsby Legends originally published by J.M. Dent & Co., 1898; published later by J.M. Dent & Co., 1907 with color illstration rather than black and white illustration. Caption in book: "Wandering about and boo-hooing."

Physical Description

88 x 85 mm.

Preliminary sketch for "Wandering about and boo-hooing," from "Babes in the wood" in The Ingoldsby Legends , 1 drawing , circa 1898.
Call Number RBD RA ART S2
General note

Pencil sketch signed "AR." The Ingoldsby Legends originally published by J.M. Dent & Co., 1898; published later by J.M. Dent in 1907 with color illustration rather than black and white illustration. Caption in book: "Wandering about and boo-hooing."

Physical Description

12 x 9 cm.

"Flounder, flounder in the sea, Prythee, hearken unto me," from "The fisherman and his wife" in Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm , 1 drawing , 1900.
Call Number RBD RA ART M2
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham 1900." Accompanied by exhibition loan ticket: "Board of Education, South Kensington, Victoria and Albert Museum, Loan Exhibition of Modern Illustration, 1900." Signed "Arthur Rackham." Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm originally published by Freemantle & Co., 1900; published by Constable & Company, 1909 and by William Heinemann, 1925. Caption in book: "Flounder, flounder in the sea, Prythee, hearken unto me."

Physical Description

13 x 18 cm.

"She immediately clutched at his cap to pull it off," from "Iron Hans" in Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm , 1 drawing , 1900.
Call Number RBD RA ART M3
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham 1900." Accompanied by note in Rackham's hand: "Grimm. Iron Hans (1). She immediately clutched at his cap to pull it off." Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm originally published by Freemantle & Co., 1900; published by Constable & Company, 1909 and by William Heinemann, 1925.

Physical Description

25 x 16 cm.

Drawing for "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" in Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen , 1 drawing , 1902.
Call Number RBD RA ART L5
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "Arthur Rackham '02." Revised version of this illustration later appeared in Fairy Tales, published by George G. Harrap & Co., 1932. No caption. Inscribed at bottom of illustration: "Little tin soldier."

Physical Description

27 x 22 cm.

"Lake side, evening," 1 painting, 1903.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL4
General note

Watercolor signed "Arthur Rackham 03." Inscribed below signature: "Talyllyn." Published in The International Studio, volume 25, number 99, May 1905 with caption "The lakeside: evening." Label attached to back of frame, in Rackham's hand: "8. The Lakeside, Evening. Arthur Rackham, Primrose Hill Studios, Fitzroy Road, Regent Park Road, N.W." Label attached to back of frame: "Royal Society of Painters in Water (possible Water Colour)," 5a Pall Mall East, London, S.W." Inscribed: "Walter R. Rea, Esq., 21 Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead." Measurement from portion of painting visible in frame. Framed.

Physical Description

18 x 27 cm.

Original drawing for "Arkel and the Princess of Sakata," 1 drawing, 1903.
Call Number RBD RA ART L9
General note

Caption: "Soon the needles ceased to move, and as she walked her gaze was fixed upon the distant valley."

Physical Description

30 cm.

"Long-armed giant," 1 painting, 1904.
Call Number RBD RA ART L6
General note

Watercolor signed "Arthur Rackham, 1904." Inscription on verso, presumed to be unpublished.

Physical Description

17 x 22 cm.

"Afternoon when the gardens were white with snow," from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens , 1 framed painting , 1906.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL7
General note

Watercolor signed "Arthur Rackham 06." Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens originally published by Hodder and Stoughton, 1906. Caption on guardsheet: "An afternoon when the gardens were white with snow." Measurement from portion of painting visible in frame. Framed.

Physical Description

26 x 35 cm.

Preliminary drawing for frontispiece in Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens , 1 pen and ink drawing , 1906.
Call Number RBD RA ART M12
General note

Pen and ink drawing, signed "Arthur Rackham. 06". Published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1906.

Physical Description

18 x 24 cm.

"Bottom and the ass," headpiece for A Midsummer Night's Dream , 1 pen and ink drawing , 1908.
Call Number RBD RA ART M5
General note

Pen and ink wash drawing signed "Arthur Rackham 08." A Midsummer Night's Dream originally published by William Heinemann in 1908. Illustration used as headpiece for Act I, scene II. Inscribed on back of original mat: "Exhibited at the Leicester Galleries October 1908 (Number 52 in the Catalogue & purchased by Miss Power)."

Physical Description

16 x 22 cm.

Title page vignette for A Midsummer Night's Dream , 1 drawing , circa 1908.
Call Number RBD RA ART S3
General note

Pen and ink, watercolor, and wash on paper, signed "A Rackham." Trimmed lettering in top and bottom margins: "Nights Dream" and "Illustrated by." A Midsummer Night's Dream published by William Heinemann, 1908.

Physical Description

12 x 16 cm.

"But they said one after another: 'Halloa! who has been eating off my plate? Who has been drinking out of my cup?,'" from "The Seven Ravens" in The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm , 1 framed painting , circa 1909.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL6
General note

Watercolor signed "A Rackham"; undated. Originally published by Freemantle & Co., 1900 as black and white illustration with caption given in "List of illustrations" as: "Then the Seven Ravens came in and began to look at their plates and cups." Published by Constable & Co., 1909 as color illustration, with caption on accompanying guardsheet: "But they said one after another: 'Halloa! who has been eating off my plate? Who has been drinking out of my cup?" Measurement from portion of painting visible in frame. Framed.

Physical Description

24 x 20 cm.

"Hansel put out a knuckle-bone," from "Hansel and Gretel" in The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm , 1 painting , circa 1909.
Call Number RBD RA ART M6
General note

Watercolor signed "A Rackham"; undated. Originally published as black and white illustration by Freemantle & Co., 1900. Published as color illustration by Constable & Company, 1909 with date on illustration. "1900 - 1909." Caption in book: "Hansel put out a knuckle-bone."

Physical Description

22 x 15 cm.

Self-portrait, 1 drawing, circa 1909.
Call Number RBD RA ART S4
General note

Self-portrait in pen and ink on recto, unsigned. Fragmentary sketch in pen and ink on verso, including sketch of a hinge.

Physical Description

13 x 8 cm.

Original drawing for "The Fox and the Leopard," page 205 of Aesop's Fables, 1 drawing , circa 1912.
Call Number RBD RA ART M13
General note

Original, signed pen and ink drawing for page 205 of Aesop's Fables; includes original board backing with information.

Physical Description

18 cm.

Original drawing for "The Fox and the Stork," page 23 of Aesop's Fables, 1 drawing , circa 1912.
Call Number RBD RA ART M14
General note

Aesop's Fables page 23

Physical Description

25 cm.

"He led us from one suspense to another; till we were afraid to look round," from "The Yellow Butterfly of Chiddingfold Manor" in The Delineator , 1 watercolor painting , circa 1916.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL2
General note

Watercolor signed "Arthur Rackham"; undated. "The Yellow Butterfly of Chiddingfold Manor" originally published in The Delineator, December 1916. Caption in story: "He led us from one suspense to another; till we were afraid to look round."

Physical Description

36 x 27 cm.

Watercolor for "Sweet porridge," in Little Brother & Little Sister , 1 painting , circa 1917.
Call Number RBD RA ART M7
General note

Watercolor signed "A Rackham"; undated. Little Brother & Little Sister originally published by Constable & Co., 1917. Illustration in book is black and white. No caption.

Physical Description

16 x 18 cm.

Handwritten note to Edmund Gosse, with pen and ink sketch of cherub, 1 card, 1918 June 1.
Call Number RBD RA ART S5
General note

Pen and ink drawing of cherub signed "AR." Inscription on recto: "To Edmund Gosse, 1 June 1918, with kind regards from Arthur Rackham."

Physical Description

10 x 8 cm.

"What part do I get then after all those kicks?," from Snickerty Nick , 1 pen and ink drawing , circa 1919.
Call Number RBD RA ART L8
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "A Rackham"; undated. Caption in Rackham's hand below drawing: "What part do I get then after all those kicks?" Snickerty Nick originally published by Moffat, Yard & Co., 1919. Caption in book: "What part do I get after all those kicks?"

Physical Description

27 x 21 cm.

"In a roar of merriment till bedtime," from The Wonder Book , 1 watercolor painting , circa 1922.
Call Number RBD RA ART L7
General note

Watercolor signed "AR" and "Arthur Rackham"; undated. The Wonder Book originally published by Hodder & Stoughton, 1922. This illustration appeared with coloring revised. Caption in book: "In a roar of merriment till bedtime."

Physical Description

25 x 19 cm.

Menu from "The Writers Club Debate Dinner" with pencil sketches, 1 card, 1930 October 21.
Call Number RBD RA ART S6
General note

The word "Menu" is printed; everything else inscribed.

Physical Description

16 x 11 cm.

Drawing for "The Chimes," 1 pen and ink drawing, circa 1931.
Call Number RBD RA ART M8
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "Arthur Rackham"; undated. The Chimes orignally published by The Limited Editions Club, 1931. No caption for this illustration. In Rackham's hand on back of original mat: "Return to A. Rackham, Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey."

Physical Description

28 x 19 cm.

Drawing of a seahorse for The Compleat Angler , 1 pen and ink drawing , circa 1931.
Call Number RBD RA ART S7
General note

Pen and ink drawing of seahorse signed "A Rackham." The Compleat Angler published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., 1931. No caption for this illustration.

Physical Description

25 x 15 cm.

Watercolor for "Thumbelina," in Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen , 1 painting , circa 1932.
Call Number RBD RA ART M9
General note

Watercolor signed "AR"; undated. Fairy Tales originally published by George G. Harrap & Co., 1932. Ill. in book is black and white. No caption.

Physical Description

13 x 26 cm.

Preliminary drawings of an owl and a cat for The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book , unpublished, 1 page of drawings , circa 1933.
Call Number RBD RA 2 [1933] R115a4 Accompanying material
General note

Two drawings in white on black background. Two pencil sketches of the same subjects. Note in pencil signed "AR": "For gold corners. These will need reducing a little. Reduce the owl a little more than the cat so that they tell about the same size. And repeat, reversed, facing the other way at bottom corners. Fairy Book." It doesn't appear that these drawings were used in the published book, although the cover illustration of an owl is similar to this owl drawing. Inscription "Goblin Market" has been scribbled out. Housed with an American edition of The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book.

"In their sad and solemn slumbers with the worm," from "The Premature Burial" in Tales of Mystery & Imagination , 1 framed drawing , circa 1935.
Call Number RBD RA ART M10
General note

Pen and ink drawing signed "Arthur Rackham"; undated. Tales of Mystery & Imagination originally published by George G. Harrap & Co., 1935. Caption in book: "In their sad and solemn slumbers with the worm." Additional fragmentary sketch found on original backing of drawing; matted separately.

Physical Description

29 x 18 cm.

"Aase on the mill-house roof," from Peer Gynt , 1 framed watercolor painting , circa 1936.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL5
General note

Watercolor signed "A Rackham"; undated. Peer Gynt originally published by George G. Harrap & Co., 1936. Caption in book: "Aase on the mill-house roof." Measurement from portion of painting visible in frame. Framed.

Physical Description

33 x 23 cm.

Sketch of a soldier and a dog going around a corner, 1 pen and ink drawing, undated.
Call Number RBD RA ART S8
General note

Pen and ink sketch signed: "Arthur Rackham." Inscription below sketch: "Sketch of a soldier & a dog going around a corner."

Physical Description

9 x 12 cm.

Photographic reproduction of drawing for Rip Van Winkle, with added watercolor (probably not by Rackham) , undated.
Call Number RBD RA ART M11
General note

Appears that title, signature, and black outline drawings are a photographic reproduction that has had watercolor applied over it, possibly by Rackham, but probably done much later. Originally laid in a deluxe limited edition of Rip Van Winkle. Rip Van Winkle originally published by William Heinemann in 1905.

Physical Description

28 x 22 cm.

"Witches' meeting," presumed unpublished, 1 watercolor painting, undated.
Call Number RBD RA ART XL3
General note

Watercolor signed "Arthur Rackham"; undated. Presumed to be unpublished. On back of original mat: "Witches' Meeting. To be returned to: Arthur Rackham, Stilegate, Limpsfield, Surrey."

Physical Description

38 x 27 cm.

Drawing of three floating figures, unpublished illustration most likely for "A Christmas Carol," pen and ink and blue watercolor, undated.
Call Number RBD RA ART S9
"No. 3 Courtyard, Nuremberg," pen and ink and wash on paper, circa 1920-1939.
Call Number RBD RA ART S10

Printed greeting cards, mostly signed, 1900-1934.
General note

Greeting cards are mostly housed individually, some include recipient's name.

"All the year round in fairyland." Punch, London, 1 leaf of plates , 1907.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 1907 R115a
General note

Punch almanack for 1907. Plate is matted. Printed in red and black. Includes calendar for 1907.

Proof of "Four clever brothers." Possibly London, 1 leaf of plates, 1909.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1909] R115f
General note

Plate published 1909 in Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Plate is matted.

Prospectus for Ring of the Niblungs. London: William Heinemann, 4 pages , 1910.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1910] W125r
General note

Color illustration is laid in. Exhibition announcement is laid in.

Advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap. Ladies' Home Journal (March 1924), page 71. , 1924.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 1924 R115c
General note

Advertisement for Cashemere Bouquet Soap, made by Colgate & Co. At head: March 1924, Ladies' Home Journal. Advertisement is matted. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 238.

"Embroidery," advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap. Publication unknown, 1 page, circa 1924.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1924] R115e
General note

Advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap, made by Colgate & Co. Taken from unknown periodical. "May 1924"--Inscription on mat. Advertisement is matted. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 238.

"New song," advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap. Asia (October 1925), page 4 , 1925.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 1925 R115n
General note

Advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap, made by Colgate & Co. Taken from Asia , volume 25, number 10 (October 1925); spine of journal attached. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 238.

"Potent dispeller of sickness and spleen: the fairy Hygeia at her beneficent task," for the Proprietors of Eno's 'Fruit Salt'. Punch (July 11, 1928), page xvi , 1928.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 1928 R115p
General note

Specially drawn for the Proprietors of Eno's 'Fruit Salt' by Arthur Rackham. Taken from Punch , July 11, 1928. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 228. Advertisement is matted.

"So they sing and play to still their cry, a soft and comforting lullaby." New York: Woman's Home Companion, 1 page , 1931.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1931] R115s
General note

Illustration is from "To Bethlehem: a Christmas masque," by Laura Spencer Portor. Published in Woman's Home Companion, volume 48, number 12, Dec. 1931. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 231.

Cadbury's chocolate box. Cadbury, Bourneville, England: Cadbury's Chocolates, 1 box with 1 proof sheet, 1933.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1933] R115c
General note

Accompanied by proof sheet with same color illustration "This box was specially designed for Cadbury Bros. Ltd. by Arthur Rackham." Date cf. Riall. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 238.

Dust jacket for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1 item , circa 1934.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1934] D555c
General note

Dust jacket. Publisher's advertisements on front and back turn-ins; indicate publication date of 1934 or later. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 125.

Photograph of a 1934 Cambridge Theater production of Hansel and Gretel , with set and costumes designed by Rackham. London, 1 photograph , 1934.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1934] P566o
General note

Inscription on verso: "A scene from 'Hansel and Gretel,' Cambridge Theater, London, February, 1934. The Times, Copyright." Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 239. Set and costumes designed by Arthur Rackham; cf. Riall.

Printed wedding announcement, signed, 1 card, circa 1935.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1935] R115p
General note

Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 242.

Latimore, Sarah Briggs. Arthur Rackham: a bibliography , typescript, proof sheets, notes, and corrections. Possibly Los Angeles, 1 typescript , circa 1936.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 [1936] L349a
General note

Includes original typescript, proof sheets, and notes and corrections. One printed sheet with illustration by Arthur Rackham.

Clipping of a photograph of Arthur Rackham, 1 sheet, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 P566o
General note

Photograph possibly taken from journal article. Photograph is matted.

Proof of a bookplate for Robert Partridge, 1 item, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 R115b
General note

Proof sheet. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 240.

Bookplates designed by Arthur Rackham, 3 items, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 R115b2
General note

Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 240. Bookplates designed for Eugene Grosman, G. L. Lazarus, and Arthur Rackham's own book collection.

Photostat of The Path to Spring, a panel by Arthur Rackham, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 R115p
General note

Courtesy of Scott and Fowles.

"Rose," presumed advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap. Publication unknown, 1 page, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 R115r
General note

Probably an advertisement for Cashmere Bouquet Soap, made by Colgate & Co. Taken from unknown periodical. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 238.

Two periodical articles illustrated by Arthur Rackham, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 R115t
General note

"A Little Oriental Rug: A Modern Fairy Tale," by C.J. Wills; from Pall Mall Magazine, December 1905, pages 761-770. "Barracks Babies," by Christian Dale (library has 2 copies); from The Quiver, March 1898, page 406-410. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, pages 228-229.

Illustration of woman and child from unknown publication, 1 proof sheet, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 R115u
General note

Illustration of woman and child from unknown publication.

Two photostats of articles, undated.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-1 9999 T93p
General note

"The New Baltic and North Sea Canal," by Thomas Rhodes, illustrated by Arthur Rackham; from The Supplement to the Liverpool Shipping Telegraph and Daily Commercial Advertiser , May 25, 1895. "The Three Owls" edited by Anne Carroll Moore (about Rackham's early work); from the New York Herald Tribune Books , December 18, 1927. Riall, R. Arthur Rackham, page 227.

Auction catalogs, 6 items, 1976-1996.
Columbia University. Libraries. Genius of Arthur Rackham: A centenary exhibition of original drawings and watercolors selected from the collection presented to the Columbia University Libraries by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred C Berol. , 1967.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-2 [1967] C723g
General note

Two copies of an invitation to the exhibition opening (one with inscribed envelope), one printed flyer advertising the exhibition, and one excerpt from The New Yorker , December 9, 1967, with a review of the exhibition on pages 54-55.

Printed greeting card to Free Library of Philadelphia Rare Book Department, signed. Byfleet Manor, Old Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 1 folded card, 1968 December 25.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-2 1968 Ed95p
General note

Card illustrated by Barbara Edwards, daughter of Arthur Rackham. Signed "John & Barbara Edwards."

St. Louis Public Library. Arthur Rackham: Illustrator. St. Louis: St. Louis Public Library, 14 page , 1979.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-2 1979 St1a
General note

Exhibition held in conjunction with Children's Media Conference: Literature and Film. St. Louis Public Library, May 7, 1979, page 4 of cover.

Cricket : volume 23, number 4. Peru, Illinois: Carus Publishing Company, 64 pages , 1995 December.
Call Number RBD RA Eph-2 1995 C867
General note

Includes color illustration on cover, one color illustration in text by Arthur Rackham; portrait of Rackham on page 2 of cover along with biographical sketch.

Print, Suggest