Rackham, Arthur.

"Young Bekie": from Some British Ballads.

1919. London: Constable, 1919.

Single offset color print, 5 x 6 inches, tipped to the original captioned buff paper, matted, near fine.

§ A single illustration by Arthur Rackham from the ballad of "Young Bekie" in Some British Ballads (1919). The plate shows young Bekie in prison, swarmed by rats. The ballad tells how he makes and breaks his promise to marry any young woman who rescues him and how his rescuer Burd Isbel tracks him down and holds him to his word. The ballad was first collected by Francis James Child in the 19th century but older versions of the story are found in Norse, Italian, and and Spanish. Item #123994

Price: $125.00