Austen, Jane; Pride and Prejudice Peacock Edition
LONDON, GEROGE ALLEN, 1894 1ST ED, HARDCOVER
Overall Condition is: Good+
Beautiful gilt decorations of Peacock perched on a pedastal with peacock feathers on cover and spine, black and white illustrations, good+ condition. General shelf wear, a small amount of discoloration on rear cover, previous owners name & date on pre title page in ink, few bumps to edges, very slightly age toned pages, cloth extremities on spine is worn, very light foxing, lightly age toned pages, top edge gold gilt. Housed in a custom green clam shell box. The George Allen published 1894 thru 1906 editions are the most desirable copies of Pride and Prejudice published other than the original 1813 three volume first edition by Egerton which brings 5 figures in today's market. A relative unknown illustrator Hugh Thompson was an Irish Illustrator born at Coleraine near Derry. he took the task of creating 160 line drawings to produce the first and still finest illustrated edition. The success of George Allens PEACOCK EDITION launched Thompson's career as as a first class and prominent illustrator who is best known for his pen-and-ink illustrations of works by authors Charles Dickens, and J. M. Barrie. In total, Thomson illustrated sixty-five books and contributed a large number of illustrations to magazines and other periodicals. When working on a new illustration, Thomson would research his subject in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. He would often take detailed notes on costumes, furniture, old prints, and architectural records. His attention to detail can been seen in his sketchbooks, which include pages devoted to the changing styles of ladies and gentleman attire. Jane Austen born 16 December 1775 died 18 July 1817 was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's novels remained in obscurity until this 1894 first illustrated edition was published. 61 different publishers reprinted her titles up to 2010 before the explosion of electronic reprint companies.
REF#:112923