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Third Edition. Hard cover, Crown 8vo in dark blue-green cloth gilt with pictorial decoration, in "Cranford Style" decorated binding, blocked with images of a rising sun, a flowering plant and a medieval-looking logo presumably from "The Spectator," from which this piece was reprinted, (originally in 1886) by Macmillan. All edges gilt. Glazed green end papers. Contains Illustrated half title, and a total of 65 black and white line drawn images by the artist. 158 pp. **CONDITION: Very Good Plus. Boards bright and clean, one minor dent at top left front board. Gilt remains bright. Very minor amounts of foxing noted. Otherwise, fresh, and binding sound. Old Christmas gift inscription in in fountain pen to ffep., dated 1895.**The story is a series of vignettes by a fictional visitor to the country estates of Sir Roger de Coverley, Knight. This engaging 18th century gentleman, a seeming paragon among men, engages in country pursuits, shows off his ancestor portraits, presides over the local church, dispenses justice and the like. **Author JOSEPH ADDISON (1672-1719), wrote essays for the "The Tatler," and established "The Spectator" with his friend Richard Steele in 1709. **Irish ARTIST HUGH THOMSON (1860-1920) is considered among the top tier of Victorian book illustrators. He arrived in London after working at publishers Marcus Ward and Company, Belfast where he trained under the artist John Vinycomb, M.R.I.A. He would go on to illustrate over 200 books, among them works by Dickens, Jane Austen and George Eliot, Thackeray and J.M. Barrie. His work on the design for Mrs. Gaskell's 1891 edition of "Cranford" gave this style of "extra" decorated crown 8vo gift book it's name, and there followed a number of derivative editions by other publishers. Watson 1104.
Ref: ILLDB 9322
$150.00