Charles Reade — Peg Woffington

London, George Allen, 1899. First edition. Cloth. The first illustrated edition of Charles Reade's novel inspired by the famous 18th century Irish actress Peg Woffington. First thus, the first edition with Hugh Thomson's illustrations. The work was first published in 1853. Reade based it on the popular stage play Masks and Faces, which he had co-written with TomTaylor the previous year. The novel portrays the career of Woffington and other prominent figures of the London theatre, such as David Garrick. This edition includes many illustrations, both plates and vignettes, by the Irish illustrator Hugh Thomson. He is famous for his pen and ink illustrations, of which there are many fine examples here. In his career he illustrated many notable editions of famous authors such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and J. M. Barrie. In the publisher's original cloth binding with gilt tooling to the front board and spine. Externally, in a very smart condition with minor bumping to the extremities. Minor spill to the front board, very light. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Offsetting to the title page and frontispiece from the tissue guard. Just the odd light spot. Near Fine . Ill.: Hugh Thomson. Near Fine .