Edward Verrall Lucas — The Book of Shops

London, Grant Richards, 1899 . First edition. Hardback. A smart example of the scarce first edition of E. V. Lucas's charming children's picture book, illustrated with chromolithographs from Francis D. Bedford. A scarce first edition. Illustrated with a title page and twenty-four further chromolithographic plates by British artist and illustrator Francis Donkin Bedford. Collated, complete.A charming verse from English humorist, essayist, playwright, biographer, publisher, poet, novelist, short story writer and editor Edward Verrall Lucas faces each illustration.Printed by the Graphotone Company, this is a delightful turn of the century children's work. In the publisher's original cloth backed pictorial paper covered boards. Externally, smart. Neat restoration to back strip head and tail, with rubbing and handling marks to board perimeters. Hinges reinforced. Internally, firmly bound. Neat restoration to fore edge of half title and title page. Pages lightly age toned to perimeters, with handling marks througout. Very Good . Ill.: Francis D. Bedford. Very Good .