First edition of the Peacock Edition. The 'Peacock Edition' of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, with the stunning gilt cover designed by Hugh Thomson; this copy in the finest condition we have ever encountered.

Hugh Thomson (1860-1920) was a renowned illustrator, in pen and ink, of classic titles. Born in Ireland his skills as an illustrator were recognised while still a teenager. Consequently, Thomson was trained by John Vinycomb, the head designer at Marcus Ward & Co., a prominent Belfast publishing house. He subsequently moved to England, working from 1883 for MacMillan & Co., illustrating all six of Jane Austen's novels and other literary classics. By 1900 he had become one of the most popular illustrators of his time. However, during the First World War there was less demand for his style of work and he took a job with the Board of Trade until his untimely death from heart disease.

First edition of the Peacock edition; 8vo; frontispiece, title vignette and illustrations by Hugh Thomson, mild offsetting from frontispiece tissue-guard but remarkably clean otherwise; publisher's dark green cloth with the stunning gilt depiction of a peacock on an urn to upper cover and related gilt decoration to spine,1 gilt edges, contemporary presentation note pasted to front endpaper verso dated Christmas 1894, the year of publication, slight bumping to extremities and superficial wear to rear board, otherwise a fine copy.