Description:First Allen edition of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," often called the Peacock Edition. With 160 line drawings by Hugh Thomson, including in-text illustrations, headpieces, tailpieces, ornamental initials, and wholly-drawn title page and dedication. Introduction by George Saintsbury, in which he coins the term "Janite" to refer to Austen's devoted fans.
Bound in full teal goatskin by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, with goatskin onlays in multiple colors, depicting a peacock atop a branch on the front cover, with a small jewel for an eye and the tail feathers elaborately gilt and decorated with heart onlays, and a fan on the rear cover, all within floral and fillet borders; spine with five raised bands and gilt in compartments with lettering and floral and foliate tooling; doublures of purple goatskin within a teal goatskin frame, with facing silk purple endleaf, richly gilt with decorative rolls and floral tooling at the corners, with binder's stamp at foot of front doublure reading "Designed & bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, London"; gilt board edges; and all edges gilt and gauffered. In a marbled paper-covered slipcase, with soft textile lining. 7.25 x 5 inches; xxvii, [1], 476, [2] pages.
From the collection of Arthur Williams Hall (1873–1952) of Massachusetts, bibliophile and manufacturer of laboratory equipment, with his penciled acquisition price code on front free endpaper; thence by descent through three generations. Laid-in card with former owner's description of book. Sunned spine and a touch of wear to the extremities; a clean interior. Near Fine. Slipcase with some wear and browning to the lining. A stunningly beautiful binding on an Austen classic. Reference: Gilson, D. Bibliography of Jane Austen, E78.
