"Frithiof's Saga," by Esaias Tegner, published by Norstedt, Stockholm, 1888, 172 pages, 13.75" by 10.5". Deluxe gray-green Morocco fine binding, highly decorative, with ornate tooled gilt embossing on cover and spine, gilt page edges, and decorative endpapers. Beautiful and very rare illustrated folio of this famous Scandinavian saga, printed on heavy paper with ornamental head and tail pieces and numerous textual illustrations. What makes this volume really soar - beyond the lavish design - are the 14 full-page tissue-covered engravings by August Malmstrom - exquisitely shaded and atmospheric work showing remarkable detail, even foreshadowing Art Nouveau work by Maxfield Parrish. The scans hardly do justice to the evocativeness and delicacy of the artwork - just stunning. The garden scene of two lovers is beautifully moving, while the forest scene of two Viking comrades beautifully captures a subtle homoeroticism, and the dense canopy of fir trees is masterfully executed. A breathtaking book, very scarce in this rare early edition, and with about the finest engravings I've ever seen. In excellent condition - elaborate gilt very shiny, binding solid, plates bright and clean, minor rubbing to edges of cover
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