London, George Allen, 1894
First edition of the Peacock Edition. The 'Peacock Edition' of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, with the stunning gilt cover designed by Hugh Thomson.
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 (185 x 125 mm); frontispiece, title vignette and illustrations by Hugh Thomson, contemporary gift inscription and a late ownership inscription below, to half-title (see Provenance), a few minor spots to lower margins of first few leaves, browning to frontispiece tissue-guard with mild offsetting to pages either side of (as usual), otherwise very clean and bright; publisher's dark green cloth with the stunning gilt depiction of a peacock on an urn to upper cover (still very bright) and related gilt decoration to spine, all edges gilt, dark green endpapers, minor restoration to one corner of front free endpaper, Spine darkened and a short, closed split to upper rear joint, otherwise very good.
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 (185 x 125 mm); frontispiece, title vignette and illustrations by Hugh Thomson, contemporary gift inscription and a late ownership inscription below, to half-title (see Provenance), a few minor spots to lower margins of first few leaves, browning to frontispiece tissue-guard with mild offsetting to pages either side of (as usual), otherwise very clean and bright; publisher's dark green cloth with the stunning gilt depiction of a peacock on an urn to upper cover (still very bright) and related gilt decoration to spine, all edges gilt, dark green endpapers, minor restoration to one corner of front free endpaper, Spine darkened and a short, closed split to upper rear joint, otherwise very good.
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