76/1497 Nicholson, W. An alphabet. London, W. Heinemann, 1898, 1st ed., lithogr. title w. col. lithogr. ill., 26 col. lithogr. plates by W. NICHOLSON, deluxe library issue: each 4to leaf tipped onto brown folio art paper, bound in orig. pict. cloth, a.e.g., folio.

- One plate w. tear penetrating the image; otherwise plates in fine condition. Binding occas. soiled; sm. paper ticket on frontcover.

= Ray 291: "Nicholson's woodcuts were reproduced by lithography (...) Each has a heavy border - Nicholson was known as "the man who puts a thick black line round everything" - and within this border is a striking design, usually a single figure, made up of contrasting masses of black and one or more colors. The decorative appeal of these woodcuts was immediate and lasting." Peppin/ Micklethwait p.215: "Alphabet and London Types brought a completely new look to illustrated books (...) these influential books owed their straightforward handling of the printed page to the example of early chapbooks." SEE ILLUSTRATION PLATE LVIII.