Undine, A Romance.

£275 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

The 1861 reprint of John Tenniel’s rare first book, containing his beautiful, haunting illustrations to La Motte Fouque’s popular tale about a water spirit, the nymph Undine, who acquires a human soul by marrying a mortal, and ultimately causes his death. Tenniel is best known for his illustrations of Alice in Wonderland, the first edition of which appeared four years after this volume. Library ticket for Gregg’s foreign circulating library, 86, Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria Station on front pastedown. Ownership inscription at head of title-page, “H M Duncan”. Covers very lightly marked, otherwise a lovely copy of this rare book.

• Year: 1861

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.