CRUIKSHANK, George Original Cruikshank Copperplate
An Original Cruikshank Copperplate From German Popular Stories (Grimm's Fairy Tales)CRUIKSHANK, George. Original Cruikshank Engraved Copperplate: Rumple-Stilts-Kin, from the First Edition of German Popular Stories (Grimm's Fairy Tales), 1823. Matted copperplate, along with a matted striked print, within a green cloth portfolio. Housed in a handsome full black morocco, gilt decorated, felt lined clamshell box. Fine.A lively, original engraved copperplate from Rumpel-Stilts-Kin, one of the most popular/famous of all characters in all of children's literature, this engraved scene appearing opposite page 217 of volume one of German Popular Stories. Original Cruikshank copperplates are quite rare; that this particular one from this particular series of illustrations - arguably Cruikshank's finest - has survived provides a scarce opportunity for the Cruikshank enthusiast. "When he undertook to illustrate books for children, [Cruikshank] became the first English artist who dared combine lively imagination and high good humor with fine drawing. Darton associates Cruikshank with the 'dawn of levity' in children's books. Because of its comic qualities, Mahoney considers German Popular Stories (1823), the first English translation of the Grimms' fairy tales, to be 'the first picture book for children in our modern sense,' but since the book is evidently not a picture book, but rather an illustrated book, she may mean just the fact that the illustrator is as important as the translator or writer. At any rate, Cruikshank's etchings for this volume were copied both in Germany and France shortly after they appeared in their original editions. In England they became such classics that John Ruskin was later to refer to them as the finest etchings done since Rembrandt."[Here] Rumpel-Stilts-Kin is shown pulling his foot out of the floor the moment after the queen has guessed his name. He has long spindling legs and wears a tall hat adorned with a chicken feather. Taylor's translation indicates that he was not unaware of his illustrator, since on the second day of guessing the queen begins her recitation of comic names with 'Bandy-legs, Hunch-back, Crook-shanks,' and so on" (http://www.iupui.edu/~engwft/cruikshank.htm)."Grimm's Collection of German Popular Stories (1823-26), in two series, with 22 inimitable etchings, are in themselves sufficient to account for Cruikshank's reputation" (http://www.nndb.com/people/184/000095896).Cohn 369.
$US3750
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