THE JUNGLE BOOK. [Illus by Maurice and Edward Detmold.**]

UK,slim Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated 1st edn thus.[Originally a green linen Portfolio of 16 loose,watercolour plates,commissioned by Macmillan & Co.,in 1901 and published in 1903.Aged 19,this was to be the Detmold's most celebrated joint achievement, depicting scenes from Kipling's 'The Jungle Book' and when issued,this was reflected in the costly publication/purchase price: 5 Guineas the set.The true KIPLING 1st edn,a UK 8vo HB in 1894 by Macmillan & Co - but not illustrated by the Detmolds.However,these same illustrations,much reduced in size, were first used in book form again by Macmillan & Co.,in 1908 for the popular trade edn.This listed new edn,first published by Macmillan Children's Books,1993,so a 1st edn thus.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj - price to rear,inner flap of dw/dj. Bright,crisp,clean,glossy laminated,colour pictorial illustrated dw/dj panels,with black lettering; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners - no major nicks or tears present.Spine/backstrip of dw/dj inevitably but lightly sunned/faded.Small oval spot (grease?) internally to rear panel of dw/dj which has bled through to board beneath.Rear panel of dw/dj has some minimal light scoring and some indents,but without adversely affecting the boards beneath.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,would appear unread - apart from my own collation.Bright,crisp,clean, sharp-cornered,publisher's original plain khaki cloth boards with bright,crisp, blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,slim Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated 1st edn,v-vipp+2-179pp [paginated] includes a preface,14 chapters/sections,16 colour illus/ plates - 5 of which are full-page,remainder part-page - includes frntis; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,contents list/table,colour frntis,
illustrations list/table and 2pp blanks at the rear.Described hard but fairly and honestly; faults nowhere as bad as they read or sound
- still an acceptable,collectible edn.
It is now a hundred years since the first publication of 'The Jungle Book' by Macmillan and Co.This magical mixture of adventure,fable and allegory is perhaps the best-known collection of animal stories ever written.
But they are more than simple tales.The jungle in which Mowgli lives is populated with creatures in whom animal and human characteristics are brilliantly contrived.In this very real,often dangerous,world Mowgli grows up,learning the Law of the jungle from his animal guardians - Akela the wolf,Baloo the fatherly bear, Bagheera the wise panther and Kaa the tough,clever python.Even their enemy,the brutal,bullying tiger Shere Khan,has something to teach him.
In 'The Jungle Book',Kipling skilfully tempers morality with excitement, as in the story of the never-say-die mongoose,Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,and his life-and-death struggle with the cobra; and the mystery of animal society is hauntingly conveyed in the tale of Toomai,the boy who saw the elephant dance.
The superb water-colours of Maurice and Edward Detmold,which Macmillan commissioned in 1901 and published as a portfolio of prints in 1903,are used to illustrae this new edn.
The Detmold twins,worked as Maurice and Julius Detmold,1883-1908, and 1883-1957.Born in Putney, 21st November,1883,being christened Charles Frederick and Edward Barton Detmold.The two middle names were soon dropped and replaced by 'Maurice' and 'Julius' respectively.
The younger twin,Edward took his first names not from his father,but from the enigmatic Dr Edward Barton Shuldham,described as occupier of the house in Upper Richmond Road where the twins were born and were privately educated.They studied animal life in the Zoological Gardens and worked in close association,painting,drawing and etching bird and animal subjects.
They collaborated on several books before Charles Maurice ended his life by inhaling chloroform in 1908.[The brothers were in April 1908,about to leave for a holiday in Sussex with Dr Shuldham,who had asked Maurice to put down the household cats with chloroform. Not an unusual practice at that time: as the cats would be replaced on the return from the holiday.]
Edward Julius went on to become one of the most interesting of the gift book illustrators, specialising in animals and plants,which were drawn with exactitude and sympathy,and often placed in fantastic architectural or landscape settings.
In its delicacy of outline and subtle colour harmonies,his work shows the influence of of oriental miniature painting.In the early 1920's he retired to Montgomeryshire,with his widowed sister,continuing to draw,paint,hold exhibitions of etchings and drypoints,but it wasn't long before he retired completely from public life,and eventually committed suicide himself,on 1st July 1957.Both brothers were elected ARE (1905),but resigned a few months later.
View my 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die catalogue for another DETMOLD illustrated title: THE ARABIAN NIGHTS: TALES FROM THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS [rja28297] and for other books and suggested reading in it.
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