PEG WOFFINGTON

London: George Allen, 1899. Near fine.. Limited deluxe issue of the Thomson edition, illustrating the popular historical novel about the Irish actress from the Georgian era, one of 200 large-paper copies on handmade paper. Soon after the success of his series illustrating Jane Austen's novels, Thomson received a commission similarly suited to his skills: Reade's Victorian novel looking back on the great actors of the 18th century, and especially the success of the Irish actress Peg Woffington. First published in 1853, it was an expansion of the popular play Reade wrote with Tom Taylor. The elaborately ornamented binding design, using elements from nature - in this case, butterflies - to create striking visual patterns, is a beautiful example of the pictorial cloth gift books produced in the late 19th century. Quarto. 10.5'' x 7''. Original elaborately gilt-stamped red pictorial cloth. Fore-edge and bottom edge uncut. Illustrated by Thomson with black-and-white frontispiece and title page, plus many black-and-white images throughout. Introduction by Austin Dobson. lii, 298, [2] pages. Touch of sunning to spine, slight lean, gentle bumping to boards.