| Method | |
| Artist | Nicholson, William |
| Published | Published by William Heinemann. London. 1898 [1897] |
| Dimensions | Folio. 320 x 260 mm |
| Notes |
First edition. Popular issue, published 1897 but postdated 1898. Publishers' tan cloth-backed picture boards. Titled on front and spine in black, with four colour lithographed illustration of an itinerant printseller above title on front. Three colour lithographed publishers device of a windmill and initials 'W.H.' to back board. Tipped in advertisement for Nicholson's 'An Almanac of Twelve Sports for 1898' to endpapers. Sanguine fore-edges. Title page featuring three colour publishers device and 26 three or four colour lithographs from the original woodcuts of the édition de luxe. Light wear, scuffing, and foxing to boards. Internally, some foxing and old adhesive staining to endpapers, some light offsetting to backs of plates, but otherwise a clean crisp copy. The popular edition of Nicholson's celebrated Alphabet, one of five illustrated series of Nicholson's published by William Heinemann, and one of his most recognisable and popular works. The Alphabet appeared in three different editions, a de luxe example featuring woodcuts coloured by hand, and two lithographed editions, a large format library issue with the plates on hand-made wove paper tipped to brown paper, and, as here, a popular edition hand printed on cartridge paper. In addition to the difference in printing method, the edition de luxe also featured two plates that were altered for the other two issues to make them more accessible to a younger audience, removing the rather ominous but graphically striking 'E for Executioner' and the drunken 'T is for Topers' and replacing them with 'E is for Earl' and 'T for Trumpeter,' as here. Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (1872 - 1949) was a British artist. A painter of landscapes, still life, and portraits most notably, he is also remembered for his distinctive illustrative work and for his creative partnership with his brother-in-law, James Pryde. Nicholson studied at Hubert von Herkomer's art school and it was here that he met James Pryde and his sister Mabel, whom Nicholson later married. The pair collaborated under the pseudonym "Beggarstaff" producing fine graphical works and posters. Their work was influential in its design and had an important impact on the poster art movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Framing | |
| Price | £1,900.00 |
| Stock ID | 52723 |