HUGH THOMSON’S ILLUSTRATIONS FOR COACHING DAYS

(THOMSON, Hugh) TRISTRAM, William Outram. Coaching Days and Coaching Ways. London: Macmillan, 1924. Octavo, contemporary full red straight-grain morocco, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, tan and green morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $400.

Later edition of Tristram’s seven historical essays on Britain’s coach roads, with 214 line cut illustrations by Hugh Thomson and Herbert Railton, handsomely bound by Rivière & Son.

“Among the genteel book illustrators, Hugh Thomson takes first place… His figure drawing is characterized by a careful blending of genteel and humorous elements well suited to the authors he found most sympathetic” (Harthan, 238). In addition,“his style reflected the nostalgia of the time, his fine line drawings of rural characters and gentle countrified society appealed to the imagination of the public” (Olivia Fitzpatrick). Thomson’s illustrations for this series of essays on Britain’s historic coaching roads were first published in book form in 1888. He was joined in the project by fellow illustrator Herbert Railton, who shared Thomson’s relish for period costumes, coaches and horses and achieved his own distinctive style by combining broken lines and ornate detail with large blank areas.

A fine copy, handsomely bound.