The Book

Decorative Illustration
"Of the Decorative Illustration of Books Old & New"
London George Bell and Sons 1896. First edition.
A basic book for the study of the evolution of the book design in the Victorian period.
Chapters on Evolution, Transition and Decline of Illustration, the revival of the 1890s and general principles of design. Chapters on Japanese work, and the burgeoning influence of photography. Contains many fine illustrations, some of them from the original blocks.
This is a profusely illustrated major work covering all aspects of book decoration from illuminated manuscripts through to the work of Aubrey Beardsley, Charles Robinson and William Morris at the end of the 19 century. As an important illustrator of the period, Crane is in position to talk about the work of his contemporaries; this is also an important book about how books are put together and what is the role of the artist..