William Somervile — The Chase

London, George Redway, 1896 . First edition. Cloth. William Somervile's early georgic poem, featuring the delightful illustrations of Hugh Thomas. The first edition thus of this charming work, reprinted from the original edition of 1735, and with the addition of a memoir on the author and the illustrations of Hugh Thomson, an Irish illustrator renowned for his pen and ink illustrations for the likes of J. M. Barrie, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.The best known work of eighteenth century English poet William Somervile, originally titled 'The Chace', focusing on rural life and the joys of life in the country.Illustrated with eight plates from Thomas. Collated, complete.With the former owner's bookplate of Richard Nicholls to the front pastedown. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with boards bright and clean. Rear hinge starting, with board holding firm. Bookplate to front pastedown. Internally, generally firmly bound. Two plates detached but present. Pages clean and bright. Good . Ill.: Hugh Thomson. Good .